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What is the main focus of systematics in biology?
What is the study of fungi called?
Which of the following statements about fungi is true?
Which of the following habitats do fungi NOT commonly inhabit?
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What is the estimated number of fungi species that have yet to be discovered?
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What do fungi primarily use for carbon sources?
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What is mycelium composed of?
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Which of the following correctly describes saprophytes?
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What structure typically forms the hard wall of hyphae?
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What is the primary role of mycorrhizae in fungi?
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Which of the following statements about fungi is inaccurate?
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What predominantly composes the cell wall of fungi?
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Which type of fungi form a beneficial association with plant roots?
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What do ectomycorrhizae primarily form around?
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What is the mutualistic relationship within lichens primarily between?
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Which of the following terms refers to the sexual reproductive stage of a fungus?
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How do fungi generally harm plants?
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What is one beneficial effect of fungi mentioned?
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What is a common symptom of fungal infections in plants?
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Which part of the fungus is primarily involved in nutrient absorption?
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Which of the following could be considered a harmful effect of fungi?
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Study Notes
Heterotrophic by Absorption
- Fungi obtain their carbon from organic sources
- Hyphal tips release enzymes to break down the substrate
- Products of enzymatic breakdown are absorbed back into the hyphae
The Characteristics of Fungi
-
Body forms
- Unicellular
- Filamentous (strands called hyphae)
- Mycelium (aggregate of hyphae)
- Sclerotium (hardened mass of mycelium for overwintering)
- Multicellular (mycelial cords, rhizomorphs, fruit bodies)
-
Yeasts: Single-celled fungi
- Candida
- Saccharomyces
-
Heterotrophy
- Saprophytes or saprobes: Feed on dead tissues or organic waste
- Symbionts: Mutually beneficial relationship with another organism
- Parasites: Feed on living tissue, pathogens cause disease
- Cell wall: Composed of cellulose and/or chitin
- Food storage: Primarily lipids and glycogen
- Eukaryotes: True nucleus
- Water & Oxygen requirements: All fungi require both
- Habitat: Fungi grow in various habitats, requiring organic matter and non-extreme environments.
-
Hyphae:
- Tubular
- Hard wall of chitin
- Multinucleate
- Grow at tips
Fungi as Saprobes and Decomposers
- Important role in recycling nutrients and carbon
Fungi as Symbionts (Mutualism)
-
Mycorrhizae: "Fungus roots" beneficial to both organisms
- Fungus: Increased nutrient and water uptake for the plant
- Plant: Carbohydrate supply for the fungus
- Mycorrhizae are ecologically significant
- Improve nutrient uptake by plants
- Enhance plant growth and survival
- Increase drought and stress tolerance
Lichens
- “Mutualistic” relationship involving:
- Fungus: Provides structure
- Alga or cyanobacterium: Provides food
Fungi as Parasites
- Fungi can infect plants and animals, including humans.
- Plant infections can cause various symptoms:
- Smuts
- Rusts
- Spots
- Blights
- Root rots
- Seedling blights
- Seed discoloration
- Wilts
- Stem rots
- Fungi can cause a variety of symptoms in animals and humans
- Hyphae can absorb water and nutrients, and secrete enzymes, toxins, and other substances that contribute to disease development and symptoms.
HUMAN-FUNGUS INTERACTIONS
-
Beneficial Effects of Fungi:
- Decomposition: Nutrient and carbon recycling
- Biosynthetic factories: Used to produce drugs, antibiotics, alcohol, acids, foods (fermented products, mushrooms)
- Model organisms: Biochemical and genetic studies
-
Harmful Effects of Fungi:
- Destruction of food, lumber, paper, and cloth
- Animal and human diseases: Allergies
- Toxins: Poisonous mushrooms and food contamination
- Plant diseases
Generalized Life Cycle of a Fungus
- Typically involves both sexual and asexual stages.
- Sexual reproduction:
- Production of spores
- Fusion of gametes
- Formation of a zygote
- Asexual reproduction:
- Budding, fragmentation, spore formation
- Results in genetically identical offspring
Terminology
-
Teleomorph: The sexual reproductive stage
- Often a fruiting body (e.g. Morchella esculenta, Agaricus brunescens)
-
Anamorph: The asexual reproductive stage
- Often mold-like (e.g. Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium solani)
- Holomorph: The entire fungus, including all anamorphs and teleomorphs
Course Information
- Course Code: BMD-322
- Midterm Exam: Week 6
- Assessment percentages:
- Midterm exam: 10%
- Oral exam: 10%
- Exercise-activities: 20%
- Practical exam: 20%
- Final exam: 40%
Systematics in Biology:
- Concerned with classification systems and nomenclature of organisms
- Studies the distinctive characteristics of species and their relationships through time
Classification:
- The process of grouping things based on their similarities
The word "fungus"
- Latin origin
- "Mycology" comes from the Greek word "mukēs," meaning "fungi"
KINGDOM FUNGI
- Over 100,000 species of fungi discovered
- Estimated to be over one million undiscovered species.
- Mycologists: People who study fungi
- Fungi are saprotrophs: They live on dead organic matter
- Fungi secrete digestive enzymes: Degrade organic material externally
- Degraded compounds are absorbed by the mycelium.
“Ecto”mycorrhizae
- Fungal hyphae:
- Surround the root
- Extend between the root cells
Lichen Internal Structure
- Example: Lobaria
- Symbiotic structure
Hyphal growth from spore germination:
- Spore germinates
- Forms mycelium
- The mycelium has a large surface area
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of fungi and their unique characteristics in this quiz. Test your knowledge on their body forms, nutritional strategies, and ecological roles. Dive into the nuances of heterotrophy, cell structure, and various types of fungi.
