Fungi and Microbiomes

These flashcards cover essential terminology related to fungi, their biological roles, reproduction, and their associations with microbiomes, providing a comprehensive review for examination preparation.

Organisms that are part of the kingdom Fungi, characterized by a cell wall made of chitin and the ability to absorb nutrients through osmotrophy.

Fungi

The first identifiable phylum of true fungi that are unicellular.

Cryptomycota

The body of fungi composed of a network of hyphae.

Mycelium

Branched filaments that make up the mycelium in fungi.

Hyphae

A structural polysaccharide that forms the cell walls of fungi allowing them to resist osmotic pressure.

Chitin

The process by which fungi absorb nutrients from their environment.

Osmotrophy

A group of fungi known for forming mycorrhizal associations with plant roots.

Mucoromycota

The largest phylum of fungi, known for yeasts and pathogens, including edible species like truffles.

Ascomycota

A phylum of fungi that includes mushrooms and is known for decomposing organic matter.

Basidiomycota

Symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots that enhance nutrient uptake.

Mycorrhizae

Reproduction that generates clones, typical in fungi where spores grow into new individuals.

Asexual Reproduction

Sperm cells that have flagella, allowing them to swim to nonmotile eggs, common in some aquatic fungi.

Flagellate Sperm

A stage in the fungal life cycle where cells have two distinct nuclei from two genetically different parents.

Dikaryotic

Complex mutualistic associations between fungi and photosynthetic organisms such as green algae or cyanobacteria.

Lichens

An organism, such as a fungus, that causes disease in another organism.

Pathogen

Organisms, including fungi, that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients in an ecosystem.

Decomposer

An assemblage of microorganisms (including fungi) that inhabit a particular environment.

Microbiome