Biology

How would spores be dispersed?

Fungal spores are dispersed primarily through the air by wind and air currents. Many fungi are also dispersed by animals such as insects and other invertebrates, birds and mammals.

Where does the fungus get its nutrients?

In the mycorrhizal relationship the fungus partner receives carbohydrates and vitamins from the plant. Because most mycorrhizal fungi seem to be obligate symbionts with plants, these materials are essential for the growth of these fungi.

How do plants benefit from mycorrhizal associations?

Mycorrhizal fungi benefit their host plant by increasing the physiologically active area of the root system; increasing the plant's ability to capture water and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium from the soil; in

Why are genera like Penicillium considered to be 'imperfect fungi'?

Penicillium and other related genera are considered to be imperfect fungi because of the lack of sexual reproduction in their life cycle.

How are spores produced?

Spores in the fungi can be produced in two ways, either asexually or sexually. Asexual spores are usually produced by mitotic cell divisions The process of asexual reproduction in the fungi varies widely within the different groups.

Where and how does the fungus get its nutrients?

The fungus gets it nutrients by breaking down the cellulose and lignin in the wood shavings into smaller organic compounds. Fungi are considered to be heterotrophs because they cannot make their own food, but unlike animals they do not ingest their food.

What are some economically important aspects of the imperfect fungi? of the yeasts?

The imperfect fungi are responsible for contamination and spoilage of crops food and animal products, resulting in economic losses in the agriculture and food industries. However they also have many positive economic benefits.

How is the life cycle of a fungus similar to that of a land plant? How is it different?

The life cycle of the fungus has some similarities to that of a land plant because they produce spores by the process of meiosis and they produce a multicellular haploid structure.

By what process do hyphae give rise to the dikaryotic phase (n+n)?

The process in the life cycle of a fungus that gives rise to the dikaryotic phase is plasmogamy, which is defined as the fusion of cytoplasm without the fusion of nuclei. In the fungi the germination of a spore produces a haploid mycelium. This grows for a short period of time until it meets a haploid mycelium of an opposite mating type.

What are the three growth forms of lichens?

The three growth forms are crustose, foliose and fruticose

What two types of cells make up the lichen tissue? Which of the two is the predominate one?

The two cells that make up the lichen tissue are fungal hyphae and algae cell. The fungal hyphae are the most predominate cells, the algae cells are very tiny and not present in obvious numbers.

From your observations of the conidia in Penicillium, why do you think these fungi disperse so well and in general are so successful at contaminating food?

These molds are so successful at contaminating foodstuffs because of the number of spores that are produced by these organisms and the simple dispersal mechanism. Their requirements for growth are fairly simple and the asexual stage of the life cycle is dominant.

In which Kingdom would you classify the lichens?

This is arguable because they are a symbiotic association between either cyanobacteria or green algae, but generally lichens are classified in the Kingdom fungi because their morphology and obvious sexual structures are for the most part fungal-like.

Why did we expose your mushroom cultures to variations in temperature and light?

We exposed our mushroom cultures to variations in temperature and light to replicate the necessary environmental conditions that induce the fungal mycelium to form reproductive bodies (mushrooms).