Fungal-like Protists and Important Organisms

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms related to fungal-like protists, their life cycles, and their ecological and historical significance.

Fungal-like Protists

Organisms that share some characteristics with fungi but do not belong to the Fungi kingdom.

Slime molds

Fungal-like heterotrophs categorized into two groups: Plasmodial and Cellular slime molds.

Plasmodial slime molds

Organisms in the Phylum Myxomycota characterized by a mass of cytoplasm with multiple nuclei.

Cellular slime molds

Organisms in the Phylum Dictyosteliomycetes that exist as individual amoeba-like cells.

Phagocytosis

The process by which certain cells, such as slime molds, take in solid particles for nutrition.

Amoebozoa

A supergroup that includes slime molds, which exhibit amoeboid movement.

Sclerotium

A compacted mass of hardened fungal mycelium that can survive unfavourable conditions.

Sporangia

Structures that produce and contain spores in certain fungal-like protists.

Sorocarp

A structure formed by Dictyosteliomycetes for spore dispersal.

Phytophthora infestans

A pathogen responsible for the Great Irish Potato Famine, affecting potato crops.

Bordeaux Mixture

An early treatment for plant diseases developed to control downy mildew.

Gametic meiosis

A method of reproduction involving the formation of gametes via meiosis in some fungus-like organisms.

Isogamous

Refers to gametes that are morphologically similar, as seen in some slime molds.

Phylum Oomycota

Also known as water molds, characterized by cellulose cell walls and bi-flagellate spores.

Downy mildews

Parasitic fungi belonging to the Peronosporales order, significant for their economic impact.

Acrasin

A chemical released by amoebae that attracts other amoebae for aggregation.

Zygote

A diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes.

Morphological diversity

The variety in form and structure among slime mold species and their fruiting bodies.

Coenocytic

Referring to organisms that have a body composed of a continuous mass of cytoplasm containing multiple nuclei.