AP Biology, Chapter 31 Fungi Summary Introduction INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNGI Introduction 1.

List the characteristics that distinguish fungi from organisms in the other four kingdoms. a. Nutritional mode i. Heterotrophs ii. Absorption after extracellular digestion b. Structural organization i. Many filamentous hyphae make up a mycelium ii. Nuclei may be separated by septa iii. Hyphae may be modified as haustoria for parasitism c. Growth: mainly by elongation of hyphae d. Reproduction i. Asexual by spores or fragmentation ii. Sexual by hyphal, followed by nuclear fusion Absorptive nutrition enables fungi to live as decomposers and symbionts 2. Explain how fungi acquire their nutrients. a. Secrete exoenzymes for extracellular digestion b. Gain nutrients by absorption c. Roles: decomposers, parasites, mutualists Extensive surface area and rapid growth adapt fungi for absorptive nutrition 3. Explain how non-motile fungi seek new food sources and how they disperse. a. Motile: spores and unicellular forms spread by wind, water, animals b. Non-motile i. Hyphae grow chemotatically ii. Fragments can be spread passively 4. Describe the basic body plan of a fungus. a. Non-clade body plans: yeast, mold, lichen, mycorrhizae b. Most common form i. Hyphae, branched to form a mycelium ii. Tubes of cytoplasm with chitin cell walls and eukaryotic parts iii. May or may not (coenocytic) be divided into cells by septa iv. Haustoria have tips adapted for penetration c. Adaptations i. Many thin hyphae provide surface area for absorption ii. Each hypha can extend and branch to exploit a new resource Fungi reproduce by releasing spores that are produced either sexually or asexually 5. Describe the processes of plasmogamy and karyogamy. a. Plasmogamy i. Fusion of cytoplasms ii. Dikaryotic (heterokaryotic) hyphae contain two types of haploid nuclei b. Karyogamy i. Fusion of nuclei ii. Pairs of nuclei in dikaryotic hyphae may fuse iii. Meiosis may then produce haploid spores

DIVERSITY OF FUNGI Introduction 6a. What defines the clade including all fungi? a. Protein and nucleic acid sequence data 6. Distinguish among the groups Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. Include a description of the sexual structure that characterizes each group and list some common examples of each. Division Chrytidiomycota: Chrytids may provide clues about fungal origins a. General description i. Coenocytic hyphae with chitin cell walls ii. Mainly aquatic saprobes and parasites b. Sexual structure i. Only fungus with a flagellated zoospore ii. Evolutionary link between fungi and a flagellated protist Division Zygomycota: Zygote fungi form resistant dikaryotic structures during sexual reproduction a. General description i. Coenocytic hyphae ii. Saprophytic and mutualistic as mycorrhizae b. Sexual structure i. Resistant, dark zygosporangia form at the site of hyphal fusion ii. Under favorable conditions: karyogamymeiosisspore formation iii. See diagram of characteristic sexual structure in text c. Common examples i. Black bread mold, Rhizopus ii. Cow dung "shotgun" fungus, Pilobolus Division Ascomycota: Sac fungi produce sexual spores in saclike asci a. General description i. Sac fungi ii. Hyphae with septa iii. Marine, freshwater and terrestrial b. Sexual structure i. Antheridium of the male hypha transfers its nuclei to ascogonium of the female ii. Ascogonium develops into mushroom-like ascocarp iii. Karyogamy occurs in hyphal tips iv. Meiosis produces haploid spores in saclike asci v. See diagram of characteristic sexual structure in text c. Common examples i. About half are in lichens ii. Morels are mycorrhizae iii. Truffles cost $600/lb. iv. Saccharomyces ferments bread and wine v. Rice blast fungus vi. Candida Division Bascidiomycota: Club fungi have long-lived dikaryotic mycelia and a transient diploid stage

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a. General description i. Club fungi: mushrooms, shelf fungus, puffballs, rusts and

ii. Saprophytes, mycorrhizae, parasites iii. Especially adept at digesting wood b. Sexual structure i. Meiosis takes place in diploid, club-shaped basidia under the mushroom cap ii. Haploid spores bud from the ends of the basidia iii. Entire fruiting structure = basidiocarp iv. See diagram of characteristic sexual structure in text c. Common examples i. Many edible forms and poisonous toadstools and Amanita ii. Stinkhorns iii. Rhodotorula, pink shower curtain yeast Molds, yeasts, lichens, and mycorrhizae represent unique lifestyles that evolved independently in three fungal divisions 7. Compare the structures and life cycles of molds, yeasts, lichens, and mycorrhizae. a. Molds i. Common name for mycelial forms ii. Fingi Imperfecti .Old non-clade name Deutromycota .No sexual stage; incl. carnivores and Penicillium b. Yeasts i. Unicellular forms; some also have hyphal forms ii. Some reproduce by budding iii. Saccharomyces, Rhodotorula, Candida c. Lichens i. Mutualistic fungi and algae ii. Fungi provide structure and protection iii. Algae provide autotrophy and nitrogen fixation iv. Can co-reproduce asexually by soredia v. Important pioneer species; dissolves rock, makes soil vi. Indicator species of air pollution d. Mycorrhizae i. Mutualistic roots and fungi ii. 95% of plants participate ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF FUNGI Introduction 8. Describe the roles of fungi in ecosystems. a. Decomposers break up large dead organisms, release nutrients b. Bind soil: prevent erosion and hold water c. Diseases control population growth Ecosystems depend on fungi as decomposers and symbionts Some fungi are pathogens 9. Explain how fungi can be dangerous and costly to humans. a. Human diseases: athlete's foot, Candidiasis, Aspergillosis, Pneumocystis, nail infection, ringworm b. Poisonings: aflatoxin, ergot poisoning, toxic black mold c. Agricultural diseases: rusts, smut, rice blast d. Expensive corrosion

Many animals, including humans, eat fungi 10. Explain how fungi are commercially important. a. Fermentation in making bread, alcohol b. Antibiotics: Penicillium makes penicillin c. Flavorings in cheeses d. Genetically engineered to make eukaryotic glycoproteins PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF FUNGI Fungi and animals probably evolved from a common protistan ancestor 11. Describe the evolutionary relationships between the four fungal groups. a. Represent progressive adaptations for reproduction and dispersal on land b. See cladogram in text 12. Describe the nature of the common ancestor of fungi and animals. a. Relationship based on molecular evidence c. Both from a flagellated protist ancestor