Fungi: Yeasts and Molds

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary and concepts related to fungi, including their structure, growth conditions, and classification.

Fungi

A large group of organisms that includes over 70,000 species, which are heterotrophic and do not contain chlorophyll.

Heterotrophic

Organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming organic compounds from other living organisms.

Mycelium

A visible mass formed by the growth of hyphae.

Hyphae

Filamentous structures of molds that are either septate (with crosswalls) or aseptate (without crosswalls).

Sporangiophore

A specialized hyphae that bears a sporangium, which produces spores.

Sporangium

A ball-like structure that produces spores in molds.

Budding

Asexual reproduction process in yeasts where a small bud forms on the mother cell.

Pseudohyphae

Chains of buds formed when yeast buds elongate and remain attached to the mother cell.

Sabouraud dextrose agar

A growth medium specifically designed to support the growth of fungi while inhibiting bacteria.

pH 5-6

The optimum acidic pH for molds and yeasts, which is lower than that of bacteria, making it selective for fungal growth.

Extracellular digestion

The process by which hyphae penetrate substrates to digest and absorb nutrients.

Rhizopus stolonifer

Commonly known as bread mold; a species of mold that grows on carbohydrates.

Penicillium notatum

A mold species known for producing the antibiotic penicillin.

Candida albicans

A type of yeast that can cause infections in humans, particularly when overgrown.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A species of yeast commonly used in baking and brewing.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Septa

Cross walls present in some hyphae that separate individual cells within the filament.

Microculture plates

Small sterile plates used for the cultivation and observation of microorganisms.