Chapter 31: Fungi

Heterotroph

Require at least one organic nutrient, cannot produce their own food

**Decomposer**

Organism that gains its nutrients from non-living organic material

**Parasite**

Organism that gains its nutrients from other living organisms, the other organisms is harmed by this

**Pathogenic**

Causing disease

***Ophiocordyceps*** **spp**

Species of fungus belonging to ascomycetes that acts as a zombie virus for ants

**Mutualist**

Organisms that participate in mutalistic symbiotic relationships

***Termitomyces*** **spp**

Fungus belonging to Basidiomycetes that from mutualistic relationships with termites and lives in their guts to help them digest wood

**Chitin**

Strong and flexible polysaccharides; makes up fungal cell walls

**Mycelium**/**mycelia**

Collection hyphae, what infiltrates organisms and substances; maximizes surface area to volume ratio

**Septa**/**septum**

Act as cell walls in the hyphae; separate the cytoplasms fruiting body; best at decomposing wood and other plant matter

**Basidium**

Reproductive appendage of Basidiomycetes; located on the gills of the fruiting body

**Septate fungi**

Hypha that utilize septa

**Coenocytic fungi**

Hypha that lack septa; these fungi divide without cytokinesis

**Arbuscules**

Branching hyphae that allows fungi to exchange nutrients with living plants, reaches into the plant cell

**Mycorrhizae**

Symbiotic relationship of a fungus and plant roots; different kinds

**Ectomycorrhizal fungi**

Form sheaths of hyphae over the surface of plant roots and can grow into the extra cellular spaces

**Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi**

Extends through the root walls of a plant cell into the cell itself through invagination

**Zygotic meiosis**

Organism consist of haploid cells and only the zygote is diploid and undergoes meiosis

**Spore**

A fungus’ main form duplication, built for dormancy and dispersal

**Pheromones**

a chemical substance produced and released into the environment affecting the behavior or physiology of others of its species

**Molds**

one of the structures certain fungi can form that assist in spore dispersal

**Basidiocarp**

Fruiting body of Basidiomycetes

***Aspergillus niger***

Can cause cold flu symptoms; form of black mold

**Lichens**

Symbiotic relationship of a photosynthetic organisms and a fungus

**Yeasts**

Unicellular fungi that reproduce through budding

**Deuteromycete**

Fungi that don't have sexual reproduction

**Cryptomycetes**

Unicellular fungi that have flagellated spores

**Microsporidians**

Class of unicellular fungi that are parasites

**Chytrids**

Class of fungi that are ubiquitous to lakes and soil environments; utilize zoospores

**Zoospores**

Flagellated spore

**Zoopagomycetes**

Class of multicellular fungi that are parasitic or symbiotic with animals and produce zygosporangium

**Zygosporangium**

A structure produced by fungi to protect the zygote during sexual reproduction

**Ascomycetes**

Class of fungi that produce ascospores in asci

**Ascospores**

Sexual spore bearing cell produced by Ascomycetes

**Asci**

Sacs that house multiple ascospores

**Ascocarp**

Fruiting body of Ascomycetes

**Condida**

Asexual spores of a bread mold; haploid

**Conidiophores**

Specialized tips of hyphae where condida are formed

**Basidiomycetes**

Class of fungi that posses basidium and produce sexual spores on the gills of the fruiting body; best at decomposing wood and other plant matter

**Lichens**

Symbiotic relationship of a photosynthetic organisms and a fungus

**Mycosis**

General term for an infection of an animal by a fungal parasite

What food and beverages do fungi play a role in?

Cheese

Alcohol

Bread

What pharmaceuticals do fungi play a role in?

High Blood pressure

Stop maternal bleeding

Treat bacterial infections

Suppress immune systems for transplants

Antibiotics

What life cycle is commonly found in fungi?

Zygotic meiosis