Trivia Night 12/23/2025

What kingdom do mushrooms belong to?

Fungi

Are fungi autotrophs or heterotrophs?

Heterotrophs

Are fungi more closely related to plants or animals?

Animals

What is the main body of a fungus called?

Mycelium

What are the thread-like structures of fungi called?

Hyphae

What do hyphae collectively form?

Mycelium

What structure produces spores in mushrooms?

Gills

What alternative structure can also produce spores?

Pores

What is the function of fungal spores?

Reproduction

What material makes up fungal cell walls?

Chitin

What other organisms use chitin?

Insects

How do fungi digest food?

Externally

What enzyme action allows fungi to absorb nutrients?

Extracellular digestion

What ecological role do fungi play?

Decomposers

What nutrients do fungi recycle?

Carbon and nitrogen

What symbiotic relationship benefits both fungi and plants?

Mycorrhiza

What do plants gain from mycorrhizae?

Increased nutrient absorption

What do fungi gain from plants in mycorrhizae?

Sugars

What symbiotic relationship involves algae and fungi?

Lichen

What does algae provide in lichens?

Photosynthesis

What does fungus provide in lichens?

Structure and protection

What environment are lichens indicators of?

Air quality

What type of fungus is yeast?

Unicellular

What process do yeasts use to reproduce?

Budding

What gas is produced by yeast during fermentation?

Carbon dioxide

What food relies on yeast fermentation?

Bread

What alcoholic beverage uses yeast fermentation?

Beer

What mold was used to make penicillin?

Penicillium

Who discovered penicillin?

Alexander Fleming

What medical role do fungi play?

Antibiotics

What fungus causes athlete’s foot?

Dermatophyte

What fungus causes ringworm?

Dermatophyte

What category of disease do fungal infections belong to?

Mycoses

What mushroom is known as the death cap?

Amanita phalloides

What toxin is produced by death cap mushrooms?

Amatoxin

What organ does amatoxin damage?

Liver

What mushroom contains psilocybin?

Magic mushrooms

What effect does psilocybin have?

Hallucinations

What mushroom is commonly used in cooking and is white?

Button mushroom

What mushroom variety is often used in Asian cuisine?

Shiitake

What mushroom is known for medicinal immune effects?

Reishi

What mushroom is shaped like a shelf on trees?

Bracket fungus

What mushroom glows in the dark?

Bioluminescent fungus

What causes fungal bioluminescence?

Luciferin reactions

What structure anchors fungi to food sources?

Hyphae

What fungi break down wood?

White rot fungi

What compound do white rot fungi digest?

Lignin

What fungi break down cellulose?

Brown rot fungi

What structure supports a mushroom cap?

Stipe

What is the mushroom cap called?

Pileus

What covers young mushroom gills?

Veil

What remnant of the veil forms a ring?

Annulus

What remnant forms a cup at the base?

Volva

What mushroom genus includes many poisonous species?

Amanita

What fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually?

Most fungi

What environmental condition favors fungal growth?

Moisture

What temperature range do most fungi prefer?

Moderate

What fungi cause food spoilage?

Molds

What fungus is used to make blue cheese?

Penicillium roqueforti

What fungus is used to make soy sauce?

Aspergillus

What fungi form mutualism with ants?

Fungus-farming fungi form with Attine Ants

What role do fungi play in soil structure?

Soil aggregation

What fungi form fairy rings?

Basidiomycetes

What group includes mushrooms with gills?

Basidiomycota

What group includes molds and yeasts?

Ascomycota

What structure releases spores in basidiomycetes?

Basidium

What structure releases spores in ascomycetes?

Ascus

What fungi cause plant rust diseases?

Rust fungi

What fungi cause smut diseases?

Smut fungi

What fungus caused the Irish potato famine?

Phytophthora infestans

What type of organism is Phytophthora technically?

Oomycete

What fungi live inside plant tissues harmlessly?

Endophytes

What fungi attack insects?

Entomopathogenic fungi

What fungus controls insect populations naturally?

Cordyceps

What mushroom resembles coral?

Coral fungi

What mushroom resembles a sponge?

Morel

What culinary mushroom is hollow inside?

Morel

What mushroom smells like seafood?

Lobster mushroom

What mushroom has spines instead of gills?

Hedgehog mushroom

What fungi form underground networks called?

Mycelial networks

What term describes fungal communication between plants?

Wood Wide Web

What fungi can survive extreme environments?

Extremophile fungi

What fungi live in radiation zones?

Radiotrophic fungi

What pigment allows fungi to absorb radiation?

Melanin

What fungi grow on bread?

Rhizopus

What fungi reproduce via spores dispersed by wind?

Molds

What fungi thrive on damp walls?

Black mold

What toxin is associated with black mold?

Mycotoxins

What fungi are used in bioremediation?

Fungi

What pollutant can fungi break down?

Oil

What structure allows spore dispersal via rain splash?

Cup fungi

What fungi form puffballs?

Gasteromycetes

What happens when puffballs are stepped on?

Spores release

What fungi form truffles?

Ascomycetes

What animals help spread truffle spores?

Mammals

What smell attracts animals to truffles?

Sulfur compounds