Fungal Diversity Flashcards
Role of hyphae
- absorb small molecules directly
- secrete extracellular enzymes to break down large molecules for absorption
- ramify over and within the substratum (their food source)
How are hyphae adapted for nutrient absorption
- long
- thin
- large surface area
Mycelia
Diverging hyphae with tangential connections to form networks
(Occurs after isotropic growth phase)
Branching density and network typology largely controlled by nutritional and environmental conditions
How do hyphae grow
- apical growth (from the tips)
- form walls first and septum later on
- grow radially and diverge
- early life they cross over = competition
- later on they no longer cross = better efficiency in finding nutrients
Name the 6 main hyphae tissues/organs
Sclerotia Pseudosclerotia Pseudosclerotial plates Pseudorhizas Coremia/synemata Stromata
Describe sclerotia
- Asexually reproduce
- Can survive relatively long periods of time in a dormant state
- Are a mass of densely packed hyphae and then differentiate into solid tissue surrounded by ‘rind’
- The outer skin protects the internal hyphal mass from drying out.
- Useful for when fungi goes through tough conditions. When conditions improve it can produce new mycelium or fruiting bodies.
Describe pseudosclerotia
- Heterogenous mix of hyphae and substrate material.
- Will surround a large volume of substrate, wood or soil with dense hyphal strands/sheaths and turn the mass into fungal biomass and residual substrate = wood inside protected against decay by other micro orgs and serves as food reserve.
Describe pseudosclerotial plates
- Colouration of wood caused by fungi
The point where wood colonies interact and meet each other causes the lines
Describe pseudorhizas
- A tap-root like extension at the base of a mushroom stem
- The mycelium aggregates into sub-cylindrical columns which then bears a fruit body
Describe stromata
- Compact hyphal matrices, in or on which fruit bodies are formed.
Describe rhizomorphs
- hyphal bundles
- Vary in growth : sometimes grow in regimented way and Sometimes they have founder hyphae that grow first and then other hyphae follow same route and twist around.
- Are exploratory structures to find nutrients/water in the soil: They also grow quicker than hyphae speeding up the exploration process.
- Rhizomorphs made of multiple hyphae so when wood found it can fan out and cover the wood more quickly.
- Can transport large amounts of water, nutrients and oxygen to fungi quickly
What happens when separated hyphae are next to each other
- if the same individual they will fuse back together
- if not the same they will fuse temporarily and then recognise they aren’t the same and separate again
What do fungi feed on?
-fixed carbon in plants and materials
Don’t have chlorophyll and cant photosynthesise
Saphrotroph
Organism that feeds on and derives nourishment from decaying matter
What are the roles of saphrotrophs
- Nutrient recycling
- Nutrient translocation
- Humus formation (humus = dark, organic material that forms when plant/animal matter decays)
- Soil structure and stability
