Fungi

1. Fungi are eukaryotic

heterotrophs that have cell

walls.

2. The cell walls of fungi

are made up of chitin.

3. Fungi do not ingest their food.

Instead, they digest food

outside their bodies and then

absorb it.

4. All fungi are multicellular except for one

species. Yeasts are the only

unicellular fungi.

5. Multicellular fungi are composed of thin filaments called hyphae.

6. The bodies of multicellular fungi are composed of many hyphae tangled together into a thick mass called a

mycelium.

7. The mycelium is well suited to absorb food because it permits a large surface area to come in contact with

the food source through which it grows.

8. A fruiting body is a reproductive

structure growing from the mycelium in the soil beneath it.

9. A “fairy ring” is a ring of

mushroom growing at the edge of a large

mycelium.

10. Most fungi reproduce both asexually and

sexually.

11. Asexual reproduction may occur when a piece of the fungus breaks off and begins to grow on

its own. Asexual reproduction may also

occur through the production of spores

which are scattered and grow into new organisms.

12. Sexual reproduction occurs

when hyphae of opposite mating

types meet and fuse bringing plus (+) and

minus (-) nuclei together in the same

cell. These nuclei form a diploid

zygote nucleus, and the nucleus enters meiosis forming haploid spores.

13. Fungal spores are found everywhere.

14. For spores to germinate, they must land in an environment with

the right combination of temperature, moisture, and food so they can

grow.

15. The probability that a spore will produce a

mature organism can be less than one in a billion.

16. The kingdom Fungi has over

100,000 species.

17. Fungi are classified

according to their structure and method of reproduction.

18. The four main phyla of fungi are:

1) Zygomycota (common molds)

2) Ascomycota (sac fungi)

3) Basidiomycota (club fungi)

4) Deuteromycota (imperfect fungi)

19. Phylum Zygomycota includes the

familiar molds that grow on meat, cheese,

and bread.

20. Rhizopus stolonifer is more commonly known as black bread

mold.

21. The root-like hyphae that penetrate the surface of a mold’s food source are called rhizoids. Rhizoids anchor the fungus to its

food, release digestive enzymes, and absorb digested organic material.

22. The stem-like hyphae that run along the surface of the mold’s food are stolons.

23. Sporangiophores are hyphae that push up into the air which form sporangia at their tips.

24. Phylum Ascomycota includes the sac fungi.

25. This phylum is named for the ascus, a reproductive structure that contains spores.

26. Yeasts are unicellular fungi.

27. When yeasts are added to dough:

1) They undergoe alcoholic fermentation due to lack of

oxygen and the need for energy.2) They produce carbon dioxide

and alcohol as by products.3) The carbon dioxide produces bubbles in the dough causing

the bread to rise.4) The alcohol evaporates during

baking.

28. The phylum Basidiomycota, or club fungi, get its name from

a specialized reproductive structure that resembles a

club.

29. The spore-bearing structure is called the basidium.

30. The fruiting bodies of organisms in this phylum are

more commonly called mushrooms.

31. A single mushroom can produce billions of spores.

32. Basidiomycetes include shelf fungi, puffballs, earthstars, jelly fungi, and rusts.

34. Phylum Deuteromycota is more commonly called imperfect

fungi.

35. Phylum Deuteromycota is

composed of those fungi do

not have a sexual phase in their life cycle.