Ch. 24: Fungi

arbuscular mycorrhiza

mycorrhizal association in which the fungal hyphae enter the root cells and form extensive networks

Arbuscular mycorrhizae

mycorrhizae commonly involving Glomeromycetes in which the fungal hyphae penetrate the cell walls of the plant root cells (but not the cell membranes)

ascocarp

fruiting body of ascomycetes

Ascomycota

(also, sac fungi) phylum of fungi that store spores in a sac called ascus

basidiocarp

fruiting body that protrudes from the ground and bears the basidia

Basidiomycota

(also, club fungi) phylum of fungi that produce club-shaped structures (basidia) that contain spores

basidium

club-shaped fruiting body of basidiomycetes

Chytridiomycota

(also, chytrids) primitive phylum of fungi that live in water and produce gametes with flagella

coenocytic hypha

single hypha that lacks septa and contains many nuclei

commensalism

symbiotic relationship in which one member benefits while the other member is not affected

Deuteromycota

former form phylum of fungi that do not have a known sexual reproductive cycle (presently members of two phyla: Ascomycota and Basidiomycota)

ectomycorrhiza

mycorrhizal fungi that surround the roots with a mantle and have a Hartig net that extends into the roots between cells

Ectomycorrhizae

mycorrhizae in which the fungal hyphae do not penetrate the root cells of the plant

facultative anaerobes

organisms that can perform both aerobic and anaerobic respiration and can survive in oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environment

Glomeromycota

phylum of fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of trees

haustoria

modified hyphae on many parasitic fungi that penetrate the tissues of their hosts, release digestive enzymes, and/or absorb nutrients from the host

heterothallic

describes when only one mating type is present in an individual mycelium

homothallic

describes when both mating types are present in mycelium

hypha

fungal filament composed of one or more cells

karyogamy

fusion of nuclei

lichen

close association of a fungus with a photosynthetic alga or bacterium that benefits both partners

mold

tangle of visible mycelia with a fuzzy appearance

mycelium

mass of fungal hyphae

mycetismus

ingestion of toxins in poisonous mushrooms

mycology

scientific study of fungi

mycorrhiza

mutualistic association between fungi and vascular plant roots

mycorrhizae

a mutualistic relationship between a plant and a fungus. Mycorrhizae are connections between fungal hyphae, which provide soil minerals to the plant, and plant roots, which provide carbohydrates to the fungus

mycosis

fungal infection

mycotoxicosis

poisoning by a fungal toxin released in food

obligate aerobes

organisms, such as humans, that must perform aerobic respiration to survive

obligate anaerobes

organisms that only perform anaerobic respiration and often cannot survive in the presence of oxygen

parasitism

symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits at the expense of the other

plasmogamy

fusion of cytoplasm

saprobe

organism that derives nutrients from decaying organic matter; also saprophyte

septa

cell wall division between hyphae

soredia

clusters of algal cells and mycelia that allow lichens to propagate

sporangium

reproductive sac that contains spores

spore

a haploid cell that can undergo mitosis to form a multicellular, haploid individual

thallus

vegetative body of a fungus

yeast

general term used to describe unicellular fungi

Zygomycota

(also, conjugated fungi) phylum of fungi that form a zygote contained in a zygospore

zygospore

structure with thick cell wall that contains the zygote in zygomycetes