29. Fungi

Fungi Reproduction

Fungi - Sexual Reproduction

Fungi - Structure and growth

Fungal Morphology: The Parts of a Mushroom

Evaluate the following statements about mushrooms. Select True or False for each statement.
T/F A diploid zygote is formed when a male spore fertilizes a female spore.
T/F Haploid spores are formed by meiosis in basidia.
T/F A mushroom is a reproductive structure that consists largely of dikaryotic cells.
T/F Mushrooms are part of the group that also includes bracket fungi, boletes, puffballs, and stinkhorns.

All types of Classificattion of fungi : Morphological,Taxonomical,Location based

Fungal Reproduction

Animation: Life Cycle of a Mushroom

Would you describe the association between Pilobolus and cows as a symbiotic relationship? Explain your answer.

Short Video: Frog Development

Using high-speed video, researchers have measured several variables associated with sporangium discharge in various spore-shooting fungi. Based on the data in the table shown here, how do the launch speed and acceleration of Pilobolus compare with those of the other fungi? How does launch speed for each species compare with the top speed of 44 km/h reached by Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt during his 2009 world-record-setting race? <IMAGE>

fungus reproduction

Explain the process of extracellular digestion that occurs during the growth of Pilobolus mycelia through dung.

Both asexual sporangia (shown in the photo) and zygosporangia can be found in cow dung. Make a simplified drawing that illustrates the events of plasmogamy, karyogamy, and meiosis that occur during sexual reproduction in Pilobolus. Be sure to indicate and label the zygosporangium.

 Karyogamy, meiosis, plasmogamy, germination 

 No. Review sexual reproduction in fungi. The correct order of events is plasmogamy, karyogamy, meiosis, germination. 

 Meiosis, plasmogamy, karyogamy, germination 

 Germination, meiosis, karyogamy, plasmogamy 

 Plasmogamy, meiosis, germination, karyogamy 

 Plasmogamy, karyogamy, meiosis, germination 

Review sexual reproduction in fungi.

Which of the listed options generally represents the correct order of events in fungal sexual reproduction?

Fungi - Asexual Reproduction

All About Fungi

Fungal Reproductive Structures | Biology | Mycology

Fungi Reproduction - 2

reproduction in fungi

 No. Plasmodial slime molds are not fungi. 

 conidium; supply the rest of the fungus with chitin monomers 

 No. Zygosporangia produce sexual spores in zygomycetes. 

 ascocarp; scatter sexually produced spores 

Fungi have to get energy and reproduce. Where does the mushroom fit in?

The mushroom in a basidiomycete life cycle serves the same function as the _____ in the ascomycete life cycle, which is to _____.

Short Video: Zoospore Release

structure of fungi

 The dominant stage of the life cycle is usually haploid. 

 No. This is a true statement, but there is a better answer. 

 The haploid nuclei of dikaryotic hyphal cells fuse to form a diploid zygote. 

 Many species obtain their nutrients from decaying organic matter. 

 Spores germinate and then mitotically divide to form a mycelium. 

 All of the listed responses are correct. 

Review fungal life cycles.

Which of the following statements about fungi is/are true?

Fungi Reproduction - 1

 It keeps transposons from accumulating in fungal cells. 

 No. There is some evidence that some fungi have genome defense mechanisms, but these are not related to the dikaryotic stage. 

 It allows for the formation of more hyphae. 

 No. Hyphae can grow very quickly, but they are not particularly affected by the dikaryotic stage of reproduction. 

 It allows for the formation of more conidia. 

 No. Basidiomycetes do not produce conidia. Conidia are the result of asexual reproduction in ascomycetes. 

 It increases the surface area for the production of basidiospores. 

 No. The dikaryotic stage does not increase surface area. 

 It allows for more genetic recombination. 

How important is genetic variation in the evolution of a species?

What is the importance of the extended dikaryotic stage in the life cycles of basidiomycetes and ascomycetes?

Propose an experiment to test whether Pilobolus shoots its sporangia preferentially toward light. Hypothesize why such a preference might be advantageous.

 No. All fungi are heterotrophs that feed by absorption. 

 whether they produce sexually or asexually 

 No. The method of classification is related to reproduction, but it is not defined by whether the organisms produce sexually or asexually. 

 whether they are mutualistic or parasitic 

 No. These characteristics are not used to classify fungi at the phylum level. 

Until a sexual stage is identified, fungi are informally called deuteromycetes.

Fungal species are assigned to particular phyla based on _____.

 They are resistant to freezing and drying. 

Zygosporangia only form when environmental conditions become unfavorable.

Which statement below about zygosporangia is/are true?

Anne Pringle (U. Wi.) 1: Introduction to Fungi

Animation: Fungal Growth and Nutrition

Some fungi have elaborate mechanisms for dispersing spores. For example, the “squirt gun” fungus Pilobolus, which grows in cow dung, forcibly shoots off tiny black sporangia filled with spores. Any sporangia that are flung onto fresh grass are likely to be eaten by a grazing cow, passed through its digestive system unharmed, and deposited in a new batch of dung. The spores carried within the sporangia are perfectly positioned to grow into a new mycelium.

Pilobolus is a zygomycete, and the sporangia just described produce asexual spores. In contrast, which of the following best describes what happens during the sexual phase of its life cycle?
a. It produces eight ascospores in each ascus.
b. It produces basidiospores that grow into mushrooms.
c. It produces motile sperm and eggs.
d. Hyphae from two compatible mating types fuse and form a zygosporangium.

Fungi Reproduction - 3

 Underground, as a mycelium begins to spread 

 No. In mushroom-forming basidiomycetes, fertilization occurs above the ground. 

 On the surface of the ground, when a basidiospore germinates 

 No. The germination of a basidiospore results in the development of a haploid mycelium. 

 Underground, when the hyphae of different mating types fuse 

 No. Plasmogamy (the fusion of cytoplasms) without karyogamy (the fusion of nuclei) produces a dikaryon (a structure with two nuclei). 

 In a mushroom, when eggs and sperm meet 

 No. Karyogamy within the basidia of the basidiocarp produces diploid nuclei. 

 In a mushroom, when the nuclei of a dikaryotic cell fuse 

Review sexual reproduction in basidiomycetes.

Where and when does fertilization occur in the mushroom life cycle?

 Pheromones allow the hyphae of two distinct mycelia to follow each other as they grow. 

No. Being competitors, it would probably be advantageous for hyphae not to follow each other.

 After plasmogamy, pheromones cause the haploid nuclei from each parent to exchange genes. 

 No. The role of pheromones is related to the initiation of sexual reproduction. 

 Pheromones initiate zygotes to form during karyogamy. 

 Pheromones initiate the production of spores in molds. 

 No. The role of pheromones is related to the initiation of sexual reproduction. Spores are produced from molds during asexual reproduction. 

 Fungi use these chemical signals to determine whether a potential sexual partner is of a suitable mating type. 

How does a fungus find a mate?

What role do pheromones play in fungal sexual reproduction?

 No. These are a feature of ascomycetes. 

 No. These spores are produced at the tips of specialized hyphae (conidiaphores) in ascomycetes. 

 No. These are small clusters of hyphae with embedded algae found in lichens and are lichens' means of asexual reproduction. 

This feature links fungi with their protistan ancestors.

Which feature below is unique to chytrids?

 No. Lichens are symbiotic associations of algae and fungi. 

 No. Mushrooms are a type of basidiocarp produced by members of the phylum Basidiomycota. 

 No. These are mutualistic associations of fungi and plants. 

 No. Sexual spores are produced within asci. 

Review sexual reproduction in ascomycetes.

The asexual spores produced by members of the phylum Ascomycota are called _____.

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