THE FUNGI

Fungi are considered saprotrophs. Saprotrophs feed on dead organic matter.

Mutualistic symbiotic association between fungi and plants, known as mycorrhizae, enhances nutrient absorption for the plant while providing carbohydrates for the fungus.

A mass of hyphae is called a mycelium. This is the feeding structure of the fungus.

Fungal cell walls are composed of chitin.

Haploid structures dominate fungal life cycles. The single diploid zygote forms under adverse conditions. Fungal gametes are not formed by meiosis of diploid cells but by mitosis and differentiation of haploid cells.

Rhizopus is made up of filament hyphae which aggregate to form the fungal body called the mycelium.

mitosis produces spores during asexual reproduction.