Review of Kingdom Fungi and Plantae (Bio Unit 2 Quest 2)

Kingdom Fungi

• Eukaryotic Characteristics

  • Organized into cells with membrane-bound organelles.
  • Cell wall made primarily of chitin, distinguishing them from plants (which have cellulose-based walls).
  • Lack true roots; instead, they grow in substratum (the material they live on).

• Mycelium and Hyphae

  • Mycelium: main fungal body, typically underground formed by a network of hyphae (thread-like structures).
  • Visible reproductive structures vary in colors, shapes, and textures.

Kingdom Plantae

• Basic Characteristics
  • Multicellular and eukaryotic, with cell walls made of cellulose.
  • Autotrophs: perform photosynthesis, storing food primarily as starch.
  • Possess chloroplasts containing chlorophyll for capturing light energy.
  • Predominantly terrestrial, with certain aquatic exceptions.

Types of Plants

• Monocots:

  • Single cotyledon (seed leaf).
  • Leaf venation: parallel.
  • Flower parts usually in multiples of three.
  • Examples: grasses, lilies, onions.

• Dicots:

  • Two cotyledons.
  • Leaf venation: net-like.
  • Flower parts typically in multiples of four or five.
  • Examples: trees, ornamental flowers.

• Non-vascular Plants:

  • Lack vascular tissues (no true roots, stems, or leaves).
  • Pioneer species; often the first to inhabit challenging environments.
  • Examples: mosses, liverworts.

• Vascular Plants:

  • Have specialized tissues (xylem and phloem).
  • Roots, stems, and leaves are well-defined.
  • Examples: ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms.

Aquatic vs. Terrestrial Plants

• Aquatic Plants:

  • Adapted to life in water; supported by environmental buoyancy.
  • Absorb water and nutrients directly from surrounding water.

• Terrestrial Plants:

  • Grow on land, include various forms such as trees, shrubs, and grasses.
  • Developed root systems can endure periods of water submersion.

Vascular System

• Xylem:

  • Transports water and minerals upward from roots to leaves.
  • Structure: one-way flow, stiffened with lignin, with no end walls between cells.

• Phloem:

  • Transports the products of photosynthesis (sugars) throughout the plant.
  • Structure: two-way flow, with end walls featuring perforations.

Reproductive Strategies

• Seedless Plants:

  • Reproduce using spores, not seeds.
  • Examples include ferns and horsetails.

• Seeded Plants:

  • Develop seeds; the embryo is protected by a seed coat and contains a food supply.
  • Includes adaptations for seed dispersal (e.g., wings, fruits).

Gymnosperms vs. Angiosperms

• Gymnosperms:

  • "Naked seeds" not enclosed in fruits, often cone-bearing.
  • Examples: pines, evergreens.

• Angiosperms:

  • Flowering plants with seeds enclosed in fruits; crucial for pollination (often by insects).
  • Successful due to co-evolution with pollinators and adaptations for dispersal.

Monocots vs. Dicots: Key Differences

• Monocots:

  • One cotyledon; parallel leaf veins; vascular bundles scattered.
  • Floral parts in threes.

• Dicots:

  • Two cotyledons; netted leaf venation; vascular bundles arranged in a ring.
  • Floral parts usually in fours or fives.

• Note on Flower Parts:

  • You will be required to label parts of a flower in quizzes and lab sessions.

Angiosperm Adaptation for Success

• Efficient dispersal methods for gametes (e.g., fruit, pollinators).
• Tough leaves resistant to environmental challenges.

Additional Features

• Gymnosperms have narrow leaves to reduce water loss, with waterproof cuticle and stomata for gas exchange.
  • These stomata can close to conserve water in hot conditions.