Plant and Fungal Reproduction - Key Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering plant reproductive concepts (fruit, pericarp, seeds) and fungal life cycles (mitosis, meiosis, spores, mycelium, basidiocarps) including ploidy, reproduction modes, and genetic variation.

pericarp

The thick fleshy outer layer of a fruit surrounding the seed; many cultivated fruits have a thick pericarp.

fruit

Anything that contains seeds; the term often refers to structures with fruit-like characteristics, though some seed-bearing structures lack typical fruit traits.

seed

The plant reproductive unit containing an embryo, often protected by tissues such as the coat and surrounded by the pericarp.

zygot e

The fertilized egg formed by the fusion of sperm and egg; a diploid cell that begins mitotic division.

mitosis

A nuclear division that produces genetically identical daughter cells; used for growth and asexual reproduction.

asexual reproduction

Reproduction by mitotic division producing clones; lacks genetic variation (except mutations).

meiosis

A two-step division that reduces chromosome number from diploid to haploid and generates genetic variation; produces four haploid products.

ploidy

The number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell; examples include haploid (one set) and diploid (two sets).

haploid

Having one set of chromosomes (n); gametes are typically haploid.

diploid

Having two sets of chromosomes (2n); most somatic cells are diploid.

dikaryotic

A fungal cell state with two genetically distinct nuclei in each cell (n+n) before karyogamy.

karyogamy

Fusion of two nuclei to form a diploid nucleus.

basidiocarp

The fruiting body of a basidiomycete fungus; contains basidia where spores are produced.

basidia

Spore-producing cells on basidiocarps; after karyogamy, meiosis occurs to produce haploid basidiospores.

basidiospores

Haploid spores produced by meiosis on basidia.

sporic meiosis

A life cycle in which a diploid organism produces haploid spores by meiosis (typical of plants and many algae).

gametic meiosis

Meiosis produces haploid gametes (sperm and eggs); fertilization restores the diploid state (typical of animals).

sporangium

A spore-producing structure in fungi and some plants; spores are released from sporangia.

mycelium

The vegetative body of a fungus, composed of hyphae; equivalent to the thallus in some contexts.

thallus

The body of a simple or primitive plant or fungus; in fungi, often equated with the mycelium.

fertilization

Fusion of two gametes (syngamy) to form a zygote.

syngamy

Fusion of two gamete nuclei and cytoplasm to form a zygote.

dizygotic

Fraternal twins from two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm; genetically less identical.

monozygotic

Identical twins arising from a single zygote that splits into two individuals.

zygospores

Sexual spores formed by the fusion of two compatible nuclei in certain fungi (zygomycetes).

mutation

A change in DNA sequence; can introduce genetic variation, occurring during mitosis or meiosis.

gamete

A haploid reproductive cell (sperm or egg) that fuses during fertilization.

spore

A reproductive unit produced by meiosis or mitosis in fungi and plants; often haploid and dispersible.

pericarp

The thick fleshy outer layer of a fruit surrounding the seed; many cultivated fruits have a thick pericarp.

fruit

Anything that contains seeds; the term often refers to structures with fruit-like characteristics, though some seed-bearing structures lack typical fruit traits.

seed

The plant reproductive unit containing an embryo, often protected by tissues such as the coat and surrounded by the pericarp.

zygote

The fertilized egg formed by the fusion of sperm and egg; a diploid cell that begins mitotic division.

mitosis

A nuclear division that produces genetically identical daughter cells; used for growth and asexual reproduction.

asexual reproduction

Reproduction by mitotic division producing clones; lacks genetic variation (except mutations).

meiosis

A two-step division that reduces chromosome number from diploid to haploid and generates genetic variation; produces four haploid products.

ploidy

The number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell; examples include haploid (one set) and diploid (two sets).

haploid

Having one set of chromosomes (n); gametes are typically haploid.

diploid

Having two sets of chromosomes (2n); most somatic cells are diploid.

dikaryotic

A fungal cell state with two genetically distinct nuclei in each cell (n+n) before karyogamy.

karyogamy

Fusion of two nuclei to form a diploid nucleus.

basidiocarp

The fruiting body of a basidiomycete fungus; contains basidia where spores are produced.

basidia

Spore-producing cells on basidiocarps; after karyogamy, meiosis occurs to produce haploid basidiospores.

basidiospores

Haploid spores produced by meiosis on basidia.

sporic meiosis

A life cycle in which a diploid organism produces haploid spores by meiosis (typical of plants and many algae).

gametic meiosis

Meiosis produces haploid gametes (sperm and eggs); fertilization restores the diploid state (typical of animals).

sporangium

A spore-producing structure in fungi and some plants; spores are released from sporangia.

mycelium

The vegetative body of a fungus, composed of hyphae; equivalent to the thallus in some contexts.

thallus

The body of a simple or primitive plant or fungus; in fungi, often equated with the mycelium.

fertilization

Fusion of two gametes (syngamy) to form a zygote.

syngamy

Fusion of two gamete nuclei and cytoplasm to form a zygote.

dizygotic

Fraternal twins from two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm; genetically less identical.

monozygotic

Identical twins arising from a single zygote that splits into two individuals.

zygospores

Sexual spores formed by the fusion of two compatible nuclei in certain fungi (zygomycetes).

mutation

A change in DNA sequence; can introduce genetic variation, occurring during mitosis or meiosis.

gamete

A haploid reproductive cell (sperm or egg) that fuses during fertilization.

spore

A reproductive unit produced by meiosis or mitosis in fungi and plants; often haploid and dispersible.

hyphae

Branching, thread-like filaments that make up the mycelium of a fungus; responsible for nutrient absorption.

embryo

An early developmental stage of a multicellular organism, developing from a zygote.

alternation of generations

A life cycle in which there are two distinct multicellular stages: a haploid gametophyte and a diploid sporophyte (typical of plants and some algae).

exocarp

The outermost layer of the pericarp, often referred to as the skin or peel of the fruit.

mesocarp