Fungal Biology Quiz: Chytridiomycetes

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Questions and Answers

What are the zoospores produced by Chytridiomycetes specialized for?

Living in dryer environments

Creating a film on the plant surface

Movement in free water (correct)

Reproducing in the soil

What does Olpidium primarily infect?

Roots of many kinds of plants (correct)

Stems of herbaceous plants

Leaves of flowering plants

Fruits of vegetable crops

Which of the following genera causes black wart disease of potatoes?

Physoderma

Chytridium

Olpidium

Synchytrium (correct)

How do resting spores of Chytridiomycetes initiate infection?

Producing zoospores that infect plant cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the common characteristic of the true fungi (Eumycota)?

They produce mycelium with walls containing glucans and chitin. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mode of reproduction referred to as the holocarpic mode?

Entire cell becomes a reproductive sporangium Signup and view all the answers

Which phyla are regarded as chromistan in origin?

Hyphochytriomycota and Oomycota Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the extensive system of rhizoids found in some chytrids?

Rhizomycelium Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about fungal spores is true?

Fungal spores enable rapid dispersal and can endure extreme environments. Signup and view all the answers

What role do hyphae play in the success of fungi?

They allow for extensive exploration and resource exploitation. Signup and view all the answers

What effect do infections by Synchytrium and Physoderma alfalfae have on plant cells?

Cells divide and enlarge excessively Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the spread of Chytridiomycetes pathogens?

They spread in infected plant parts and contaminated soil Signup and view all the answers

Which phyla of fungi is characterized by the absence of true mycelium?

Chytridiomycota Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary feature of the fungal hyphal structure?

They secrete digestive enzymes at their growing tips. Signup and view all the answers

How does the growth rate of hyphal tips affect fungal colonies?

Hyphal tips double in number approximately every hour. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following phyla do not have motile spores?

Ascomycota and Basidiomycota Signup and view all the answers

What type of spores are produced externally by Basidiomycota?

Basidiospores Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following fungi are NOT classified under the order Uredinales?

Ustilago maydis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of rust fungi?

They are specialized parasites attacking certain plant varieties. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic feature do Agaricales exhibit?

Basidia are produced on radiating gills or lamellae. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the fruits and vegetables affected by Geotrichum candidum?

Sour rot Signup and view all the answers

Which fungus is known to cause the black wart of potato?

Synchytrium endobioticum Signup and view all the answers

In which phylum does Allomyces arbusculus belong?

Blastocladiomycota Signup and view all the answers

What type of reproduction involves the formation of both haploid and diploid thalli in Allomyces?

Anisogamous reproduction Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the production of haploid meiospores in the resistant sporangia of Blastocladiomycota?

Meiosis due to environmental stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Neocallimastix species from other chytridiomycetes?

Presence of multi-flagellate zoospores Signup and view all the answers

What is the fate of zygotes in the life cycle of Allomyces arbusculus?

They develop into diploid thalli bearing sporangia Signup and view all the answers

Which type of thallus forms in the holocarpic fungus Olpidium brassicae?

Holocarpic thallus Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the haploid thalli in Allomyces arbusculus?

Form gametes in specialized gametangia Signup and view all the answers

Which order contains fungi known to be used as biocontrol agents against plant pathogenic fungi?

Hypocreales Signup and view all the answers

What type of reproductive structures do Discomycetes possess?

Apothecia Signup and view all the answers

Which fungus is specifically associated with Dutch elm disease?

Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Signup and view all the answers

Which order is known for causing the brown rot disease of stone fruits?

Discomycetes Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a disease caused by the genus Fusarium?

Foot rot Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fungi is categorized as Deuteromycetes?

Imperfect or asexual fungi Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following fungi causes anthracnose diseases?

Glomerella sp. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Loculoascomycetes from other Ascomycetes?

Production of asci within locules Signup and view all the answers

What is a method to control soft rot caused by zygomycetes?

Avoid wounding fruits during harvest and store separately Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between Glomeromycota fungi and plants?

They form obligate mutualistic symbioses, exchanging nutrients for sugars. Signup and view all the answers

How do Glomeromycota fungi help plants in nutrient acquisition?

By mobilizing and translocating insoluble phosphorus and other nutrients Signup and view all the answers

At what temperatures should succulent fruits be stored to prevent rot?

Below 10°C to inhibit fungal growth Signup and view all the answers

What structure do Glomeromycota fungi develop inside plant roots for nutrient exchange?

Arbuscules Signup and view all the answers

What biological control method has been experimentally used against Rhizopus on stored fruits?

Treating with yeasts from the genera Candida and Pichia Signup and view all the answers

What type of spores are commonly produced by Glomeromycota fungi in the soil?

Resting spores Signup and view all the answers

What conditions should be maintained for storing sweet potatoes to prevent fungal penetration?

Between 25 to 30°C with 90% humidity for corking surfaces Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

General Mycology Course Content

The course, AG-MCCP4114, covers General Mycology.
The course content includes an introduction to morphology, growth and reproduction of fungi.
The course covers Pseudofungi and True Fungi (Eumycota).
The lecture details eight phyla of true fungi, including Chytridiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Zygomycota, Glomeromycota, Microsporidia, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota.
The course also examines fungal diseases of crops and fungi as biological control agents.

True Fungi (Kingdom Fungi or Eumycota)

Eumycota (true fungi) lacks chloroplasts.
Eumycota contains glucans and chitin in its cell walls.
Some fungi produce motile cells (zoospores) with one or two flagella.
Five phyla (Hyphochytriomycota, Oomycota, Chytridiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, and Neocallimastigomycota) fit in this category and are often chromistan.
The remaining phyla (Microsporidia, Zygomycota, Cryptomycota, Glomeromycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota) in the kingdom Eumycota do not have motile spores.
The success of fungi depends on spores for rapid dispersal and hyphae for exploration.
Spores allow survival through unfavorable conditions.
Hyphae permit exploration and exploitation of new substrates; growth rate doubles every hour.

Phylum Chytridiomycota

Chytridiomycetes lack true mycelium and contain chitin.
They live within cells of the host.
On maturity, the vegetative body transforms into resting spores or sporangia.
Chytridiomycetes are water/soil-inhabiting fungi that need free water and a water film.
They produce zoospores with a posterior flagellum.
Three genera are plant pathogens: Olpidium, Synchytrium, and Physoderma.

Phylum Blastocladiomycota

The phyllum, previously an order within Chytridiomycota, contains a thallus with true hyphae and rhizoids.
Allomyces arbusculus shows alternation between haploid and diploid thalli.
Haploid thalli produce gametes in specialized gametangia.
Diploid thalli produce flagellate zoospores and resting sporangia.
This phylum exhibits anisogamy, where gametes come in two sizes, producing male and female gametangia.

Phylum Neocallimastigomycota

This phylum includes new chytridiomycetous fungi found in the rumen of herbivores in 1975.
They rely on anaerobic conditions.
They lack mitochondria and often contain multi-flagellate zoospores.
They have rhizomycelia which effectively penetrate plant material and break down cellulose.
They are classified as the order Callimastigales.

Phylum Zygomycota

Zygomycetes have well-developed mycelia without cross-walls.
Members reproduce sexually through fusion of morphologically similar gametangia, forming a zygosporangium.
The zygosporangium thickens and acts as a resting spore.
Asexual (anamorphic) phases occur easily on moldy bread, peaches, horse dung, and dog poop.
Three genera cause diseases in plants: Choanephora (withering of floral parts and soft rot), Rhizopus (soft rots of fleshy fruits), and Mucor (soft rots).

Phylum Glomeromycota

This phylum encompasses endomycorrhizal or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
They have the most observed mycorrhizal relationships with plants.
Their hyphae enter living root cells in about 90% of higher plants.
A mutualistic symbiosis called arbuscular mycorrhizae is formed.
Large, thick-walled resting spores are common in soils and germinate in proximity to plant roots.
Fungi spread through the soil and enter living roots, forming arbuscules which exchange phosphorus or nutrients.
They also produce vesicles or intramatrical spores inside plant roots.
The fungi are vital for nutrient mobilization and plant thriving in poor soils.

Phylum Microsporidia

About 1,500 known species are intracellular parasites of various organisms (mainly insects and fish).
They live inside host cells, lack mitochondria and flagella, and reproduce through resistant spores.
Nosema is a well-known example parasitizing many insects.

Phylum Ascomycota

Most Ascomycetes have both sexual (teleomorph) and asexual (anamorph) stages.
Sexual spores are called ascospores.
Asexual spores are called conidia.
The group is divided into classifications based on the fruiting body form, including: Archiascomycetes (characterized by difficult classification), Saccharomycetes (unicellular fungi that reproduce by budding like yeasts), and filamentous ascomycetes.
Filamentous ascomycetes are further grouped according to fruiting body shapes (Cleistothecium, Perithecium, Apothecium, Pseudothecium and Loculoascomycetes).
Examples include diseases like peach leaf curl, plum pocket, oak leaf blister, citrus rot, and various anthracnose diseases.
Certain genera are useful biocontrol agents like Trichoderma.
This phylum includes diverse types like powdery mildew fungi, bread molds, and various pathogens.

Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiospores (sexual spores) are produced externally on special spore-producing structures called basidium.
The structures are often club-shaped.
The phylum includes smuts (Order Ustilaginales), rusts (Order Uredinales), and mushrooms (Order Agaricales)
Smuts cause diseases of various plant species.
Rusts are specific parasites attacking particular varieties of their host plant.
Mushrooms form a variety of diverse mycorrhizal fungi

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Test your knowledge on Chytridiomycetes and their unique characteristics. This quiz covers various aspects of these fungi, including their reproduction, infections, and roles in ecosystems. Perfect for students studying mycology or related fields.