Plant Diversification & Diversity of Fungi

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to plant diversification and fungi diversity, aiding in understanding their roles and relationships in ecosystems.

Plant

Multicellular organisms that typically produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms, characterized by their heterotrophic nature.

Eukaryote

An organism whose cells contain a nucleus and organelles, including plants, animals, and fungi.

Heterotrophic

Organisms that cannot produce their own food and must obtain it from other sources.

Autotrophic

Organisms that can produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Multicellular

Organisms made up of multiple cells that often work together.

Mycelium

The vegetative part of fungi, composed of a network of hyphae.

Hyphae

Long, branching structures that make up the mycelium of fungi.

Septa

Walls that divide the hyphae into cells.

Coenocytic

Hyphae that lack septa and have multiple nuclei in the same cell.

Spores

Reproductive cells produced by fungi that can develop into new organisms.

Gametophyte

The multicellular haploid form in the life cycle of plants that produces gametes.

Sporophyte

The multicellular diploid form in the life cycle of plants that produces spores.

Alternation of Generations

A reproductive cycle in which organisms alternate between haploid and diploid stages.

Pollen

The male gametophyte of seed plants that carries the male gametes.

Seeds

Structures that contain the fertilized ovule and can develop into a new plant.

Angiosperm

Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed within fruits.

Gymnosperm

Seed-producing plants that do not form flowers or fruits, often producing cones.

Stomata

Pores on the surface of leaves that allow gas exchange.

Cuticle

A waxy covering on plant surfaces that reduces water loss.

Lignin

A complex organic polymer found in the cell walls of plants, providing rigidity.

Vascular Tissue

Plant tissue that facilitates the transport of water and nutrients.

Alternation of Generations in Plants

The switching between the gametophyte and sporophyte stages in the plant life cycle.

Microspore

A haploid spore that develops into a male gametophyte.

Megaspore

A haploid spore that develops into a female gametophyte.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from male structures to female structures in plants.

Fertilization

The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Zygote

The diploid cell formed when two gametes combine.

Ascomycetes

Fungi that produce spores in sac-like structures called asci.

Basidiomycetes

Fungi that produce spores on club-shaped cells called basidia.

Conidia

Asexual spores produced by certain fungi.

Chitin

A tough, structural material that makes up fungal cell walls.

Fungal Life Cycle

The life cycle of fungi, typically involving both sexual and asexual reproduction.

Plasmogamy

The fusion of cytoplasm from two different mating types in fungi.

Karyogamy

The fusion of nuclei from two different mating types in fungi.

Heterokaryotic

A mycelium containing genetically different nuclei.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that produces four haploid cells from a diploid cell.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.

Ecosystem Roles of Plants

Plants provide oxygen, food, and habitat, and are primary producers in ecosystems.

Flowers

Reproductive structures in angiosperms that facilitate pollination.

Fungi in Symbiosis

Fungi often form beneficial relationships with other organisms, such as mycorrhizae with plants.

Adaptive Radiation

The evolution of diverse species from a common ancestor in response to environmental changes.

Spores and Gene Flow

The dispersal of spores allows for genetic exchange between populations.

Fruit

The mature ovary of a flower that protects seeds and aids in their dispersal.

Dispersal Mechanisms for Seeds

How seeds spread to reduce competition and colonize new areas.

Nutrient Absorption in Fungi

Fungi absorb nutrients from the environment through their mycelium.

Evolution of Seed Plants

Seed and flowering plants are more successful due to adaptations that facilitate reproduction and survival.

Colonization by Fungi

Fungi were among the first eukaryotes to colonize land, aiding in the establishment of terrestrial ecosystems.

Fungal Ecology

Fungi play essential roles in nutrient cycling and decomposition in ecosystems.

Terrestrial Plants

Plants adapted to live on land, contributing oxygen and food to ecosystems.