Chapter 34

Question 1

An abundant and diverse group of heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms, principally responsible for the decomposition of plant and animal tissues.

Answer 1

fungi

Question 2

In fungi, highly branched filaments that provide a large surface area for absorbing nutrients.

Answer 2

hyphae

Question 3

A network of branching hyphae

Answer 3

mycelium

Question 4

A modified polysaccharide containing nitrogen that makes up the cell walls of fungi and the hard exoskeletons of arthropods.

Answer 4

chitin

Question 5

A single-celled fungus found in moist, nutrient-rich environments.

Answer 5

yeasts

Question 6

One of the two main types of mycorrhizae; ectomycorrhizae produce a thick sheath of fungal cells (hyphae) that surround, but do not penetrate, root cells.

Answer 6

ectomycorrhizae

Question 7

A fungus that lives within leaves and that may help the host plant by producing chemicals that deter pathogens and herbivores.

Answer 7

endophyte

Question 8

Stable associations between a fungus and a photosynthetic microorganism, usually a green alga but sometimes a cyanobacterium.

Answer 8

lichens

Question 9

A multicellular structure in some fungi that facilitates the dispersal of sexually produced spores.

Answer 9

fruiting body

Question 10

The cytoplasmic union of two cells.

Answer 10

plasmogamy

Question 11

The fusion of two nuclei following plasmogamy.

Answer 11

karyogamy

Question 12

Describes a stage in the life cycle of some fungi, in which plasmogamy is not followed immediately by karyogamy and the cells have unfused haploid nuclei from both parents.

Answer 12

heterokaryotic

Question 13

Having two haploid nuclei, one from each parent, in each cell.

Answer 13

dikaryotic

Question 14

Genetically distinct forms of individuals of a fungus species that, by enabling fertilization only between different types, prevent self-fertilization and promote out-crossing.

Answer 14

mating types

Question 15

Describes asexual species that generate genetic diversity by the crossing over of DNA during mitosis.

Answer 15

parasexual

Question 16

A single-celled aquatic fungus with chitin walls that attaches to decomposing organic matter.

Answer 16

chytrid

Question 17

A monophyletic fungal group of apparently low diversity but tremendous ecological importance that occurs in association with plant roots.

Answer 17

glomeromycetes

Question 18

A vast fungal group that includes about 98% of all described fungal species and in which dikaryotic cells are formed.

Answer 18

dikarya

Question 19

A monophyletic fungal subgroup of the Dikarya, making up 64% of all fungal species, in which nuclear fusion and meiosis take place in an elongated saclike cell called an ascus; also called sac fungi.

Answer 19

ascomycetes

Question 20

A monophyletic fungal subgroup of the Dikarya, including smuts, rusts, and mushrooms, in which nuclear fusion and meiosis take place in a club-shaped cell called a basidium; also called club fungi.

Answer 20

basidiomycetes