Biological Diversity: Fungi

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts pertaining to fungi, their structure, reproduction, ecological roles, and significance in biotechnology.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic and absorb nutrients.

Heterotrophic

An organism that cannot produce its own food and must absorb nutrients from other sources.

Mycelium

The mass of hyphae that forms the vegetative part of a fungus.

Hyphae

The underlying filaments that make up the body of fungi.

Chitin

A tough, flexible carbohydrate that makes up the cell wall of fungi.

Dikaryotic

A fungal stage in which cells have two distinct nuclei.

Lichens

Mutualistic associations between fungi and photosynthetic organisms like algae or cyanobacteria.

Mycorrhizae

Symbiotic relationships between fungal hyphae and plant roots that enhance nutrient uptake.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Fruiting body

Reproductive structures of fungi that produce spores for reproduction.

Spores

A reproductive unit capable of developing into a new organism; can be asexual or sexual.

Absorptive nutrition

The process of secreting enzymes to absorb small organic molecules from the environment.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease in a host.

Yeast

Unicellular fungi that can reproduce asexually by budding.

Biotechnology applications of fungi

Utilization of fungi in industries for producing acids, alcohol, and other products.