Chapter 31: Fungi

Heterotroph

Require at least one organic nutrient, cannot produce their own food

Decomposer

Organism that gains its nutrients from non-living organic material

Parasite

Organism that gains its nutrients from other living organisms, the other organisms is harmed by this

Pathogenic

Causing disease

Ophiocordyceps spp

Species of fungus belonging to ascomycetes that acts as a zombie virus for ants

Mutualist

Organisms that participate in mutalistic symbiotic relationships

Termitomyces spp

Fungus belonging to Basidiomycetes that from mutualistic relationships with termites and lives in their guts to help them digest wood

Chitin

Strong and flexible polysaccharides; makes up fungal cell walls

Mycelium/mycelia

Collection hyphae, what infiltrates organisms and substances; maximizes surface area to volume ratio

Septa/septum

Act as cell walls in the hyphae; separate the cytoplasms fruiting body; best at decomposing wood and other plant matter

Basidium

Reproductive appendage of Basidiomycetes; located on the gills of the fruiting body

Septate fungi

Hypha that utilize septa

Coenocytic fungi

Hypha that lack septa; these fungi divide without cytokinesis

Arbuscules

Branching hyphae that allows fungi to exchange nutrients with living plants, reaches into the plant cell

Mycorrhizae

Symbiotic relationship of a fungus and plant roots; different kinds

Ectomycorrhizal fungi

Form sheaths of hyphae over the surface of plant roots and can grow into the extra cellular spaces

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Extends through the root walls of a plant cell into the cell itself through invagination

Zygotic meiosis

Organism consist of haploid cells and only the zygote is diploid and undergoes meiosis

Spore

A fungus’ main form duplication, built for dormancy and dispersal

Pheromones

a chemical substance produced and released into the environment affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species

Molds

one of the structures certain fungi can form that assist in spore dispersal

Basidiocarp

Fruiting body of Basidiomycetes

Aspergillus niger

Can cause cold flu symptoms; form of black mold

Lichens

Symbiotic relationship of a photosynthetic organisms and a fungus

Yeasts

Unicellular fungi that reproduce through budding

Deuteromycete

Fungi that don't have sexual reproduction

Cryptomycetes

Unicellular fungi that have flagellated spores

Microsporidians

Class of unicellular fungi that are parasites

Chytrids

Class of fungi that are ubiquitous to lakes and soil environments; utilize zoospores

Zoospores

Flagellated spore

Zoopagomycetes

Class of multicellular fungi that are parasitic or symbiotic with animals and produce zygosporangium

Zygosporangium

A structure produced by fungi to protect the zygote during sexual reproduction

Ascomycetes

Class of fungi that produce ascospores in asci

Ascospores

Sexual spore bearing cell produced by Ascomycetes

Asci

Sacs that house multiple ascospores

Ascocarp

Fruiting body of Ascomycetes

Condida

Asexual spores of a bread mold; haploid

Conidiophores

Specialized tips of hyphae where condida are formed

Basidiomycetes

Class of fungi that posses basidium and produce sexual spores on the gills of the fruiting body; best at decomposing wood and other plant matter

Lichens

Symbiotic relationship of a photosynthetic organisms and a fungus

Mycosis

General term for an infection of an animal by a fungal parasite

What food and beverages do fungi play a role in?

Cheese

Alcohol

Bread

What pharmaceuticals do fungi play a role in?

High Blood pressure

Stop maternal bleeding

Treat bacterial infections

Suppress immune systems for transplants

Antibiotics

What life cycle is commonly found in fungi?

Zygotic meiosis