Fungi

Which of the following statements is true? 

a. A dikaryotic ascus that forms in the ascocarp undergoes karyogamy, meiosis, and mitosis to form eight ascospores. 

b. A diploid ascus that forms in the ascocarp undergoes karyogamy, meiosis, and mitosis to form eight ascospores. 

c. A haploid zygote that forms in the ascocarp undergoes karyogamy, meiosis, and mitosis to form eight ascospores. 

d. A dikaryotic ascus that forms in the ascocarp undergoes plasmogamy, meiosis, and mitosis to form eight ascospores. 

Which of the following statements is true? 

a. A basidium is the fruiting body of a mushroom producing fungus, and it forms four basidiocarps. 

b. The result of the plasmogamy step is four basidiospores. 

c. Karyogamy results directly in the formation of mycelia. 

d. A basidiocarp is the fruiting body of a mushroom producing fungus. 

If symbiotic fungi are absent from the soil, what impact do you think this would have on plant growth? 

Which polysaccharide is usually found in the cell wall of fungi? 

a. starch 

b. glycogen 

c. chitin 

d. cellulose 

Which of these organelles is not found in a fungal cell? 

a. chloroplast 

b. nucleus 

c. mitochondrion 

d. Golgi apparatus 

The wall dividing individual cells in a fungal filament is called a 

a. thallus 

b. hypha 

c. mycelium 

d. septum 

During sexual reproduction, a homothallic mycelium contains 

a. all septated hyphae 

b. all haploid nuclei 

c. both mating types 

d. none of the above 

The life cycles of perfect fungi are most similar to which other organism? 

a. Hydra that undergo asexual budding 

b. Diploid-dominant pea plants 

c. Haploid-dominant green algae 

d. Bacteria undergoing binary fission 

The most primitive phylum of fungi is the ________. 

a. Chytridiomycota 

b. Zygomycota 

c. Glomeromycota 

d. Ascomycota 

Members of which phylum produce a club-shaped structure that contains spores? 

a. Chytridiomycota 

b. Basidiomycota 

c. Glomeromycota 

d. Ascomycota 

Members of which phylum establish a successful symbiotic relationship with the roots of trees? 

a. Ascomycota

b. Deuteromycota 

c. Basidiomycota 

d. Glomeromycota 

The fungi that do not reproduce sexually used to be classified as ________. 

a. Ascomycota 

b. Deuteromycota 

c. Basidiomycota 

d. Glomeromycota 

A scientist discovers a new species of fungus that introduces genetic diversity during reproduction by creating a diploid zygote. This new species cannot belong to which modern phylum of fungi? 

a. Zygomycota 

b. Glomeromycota 

c. Chytridiomycota 

d. Deuteromycota 

What term describes the close association of a fungus with the root of a tree? 

a. a rhizoid 

b. a lichen 

c. a mycorrhiza 

d. an endophyte 

Why are fungi important decomposers? 

a. They produce many spores. 

b. They can grow in many different environments. 

c. They produce mycelia. 

d. They recycle carbon and inorganic minerals by the process of decomposition 

Consider an ecosystem where all the fungi not involved in mycorrhizae are eliminated. How would this affect nitrogen intake by plants? 

a. Nitrogen intake would increase. 

b. Nitrogen intake would not change. 

c. Nitrogen intake would decrease. 

d. Nitrogen intake would stop. 

A fungus that climbs up a tree reaching higher elevation to release its spores in the wind and does not receive any nutrients from the tree or contribute to the tree’s welfare is described as a ________. 

a. commensal 

b. mutualist 

c. parasite 

d. pathogen 

A fungal infection that affects nails and skin is classified as ________. 

a. systemic mycosis 

b. mycetismus 

c. superficial mycosis 

d. mycotoxicosis 

The targets for anti-fungal drugs are much more limited than antibiotics or anti-viral medications. Why? 

a. There are more bacteria and viruses than fungi. 

b. Fungi can only be targeted during sexual reproduction, while bacteria and viruses can be targeted at any point in their lifespan. 

c. Fungi cause topical infections, while viruses and bacteria cause systemic infections. 

d. Human cells are much more similar to fungi cells than bacteria or viruses. 

Yeast is a facultative anaerobe. This means that alcohol fermentation takes place only if: 

a. the temperature is close to 37°C 

b. the atmosphere does not contain oxygen 

c. sugar is provided to the cells 

d. light is provided to the cells 

The advantage of yeast cells over bacterial cells to express human proteins is that: 

a. yeast cells grow faster 

b. yeast cells are easier to manipulate genetically 

c. yeast cells are eukaryotic and modify proteins similarly to human cells 

d. yeast cells are easily lysed to purify the proteins 

Why are fungal insecticides an attractive alternative to chemical pesticides for growing food crops? 

a. Human consumption of fungal insecticides would not make a person sick, but ingestion of chemical pesticides can be harmful to humans. 

b. A single fungal insecticide would kill a wider variety of insects than a chemical pesticide. 

c. Fungal insecticides can eliminate both harmful insects and plant pathogens, while chemical pesticides only kill insects. 

d. Fungal insecticides will decompose dying plants, enhancing the nitrogen content of the soil, while chemical pesticides are not decomposers. 

What are the evolutionary advantages for an organism to reproduce both asexually and sexually? 

Compare plants, animals, and fungi, considering these components: cell wall, chloroplasts, plasma membrane, food source, and polysaccharide storage. Be sure to indicate fungi’s similarities and differences to plants and animals. 

Why is the large surface area of the mycelium essential for nutrient acquisition by fungi? 

What is the advantage for a basidiomycete to produce a showy and fleshy fruiting body? 

For each of the four groups of perfect fungi (Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota), compare the body structure and features, and provide an example. 

Why does protection from light actually benefit the photosynthetic partner in lichens? 

Ambrosia bark beetles carry Ambrosiella fungal spores to trees, then bore holes and lay their eggs with the fungus. When the new larvae hatch, they eat the fungus that has germinated in the holes. Describe how this relationship can be classified as mutualistic. 

Ecologists often attempt to introduce new plants to restore degraded land. In an arid climate, scientists recommend introducing plants with arbuscular mycorrhizae. How would the mycorrhizae increase the plants’ survival compared to plants without mycorrhizae?

Why can superficial mycoses in humans lead to bacterial infections? 

Explain how the Red Queen Hypothesis describes the continuously evolving relationship between red grapes and Botrytis cinerea. 

Historically, artisanal breads were produced by capturing wild yeasts from the air. Prior to the development of modern yeast strains, the production of artisanal breads was long and laborious because many batches of dough ended up being discarded. Can you explain this fact? 

How would treating an area of a forest with a broad spectrum fungicide alter the carbon and nitrogen cycles in the area?