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5.4.7: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    97142
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    arbuscular mycorrhiza
    mycorrhizal association in which the fungal hyphae enter the root cells and form extensive networks
    Arbuscular mycorrhizae
    mycorrhizae commonly involving Glomeromycetes in which the fungal hyphae penetrate the cell walls of the plant root cells (but not the cell membranes)
    ascocarp
    fruiting body of ascomycetes
    Ascomycota
    (also, sac fungi) phylum of fungi that store spores in a sac called ascus
    basidiocarp
    fruiting body that protrudes from the ground and bears the basidia
    Basidiomycota
    (also, club fungi) phylum of fungi that produce club-shaped structures (basidia) that contain spores
    basidium
    club-shaped fruiting body of basidiomycetes
    Chytridiomycota
    (also, chytrids) primitive phylum of fungi that live in water and produce gametes with flagella
    coenocytic hypha
    single hypha that lacks septa and contains many nuclei
    commensalism
    symbiotic relationship in which one member benefits while the other member is not affected
    Deuteromycota
    former form phylum of fungi that do not have a known sexual reproductive cycle (presently members of two phyla: Ascomycota and Basidiomycota)
    ectomycorrhiza
    mycorrhizal fungi that surround the roots with a mantle and have a Hartig net that extends into the roots between cells
    Ectomycorrhizae
    mycorrhizae in which the fungal hyphae do not penetrate the root cells of the plant
    facultative anaerobes
    organisms that can perform both aerobic and anaerobic respiration and can survive in oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environment
    Glomeromycota
    phylum of fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of trees
    haustoria
    modified hyphae on many parasitic fungi that penetrate the tissues of their hosts, release digestive enzymes, and/or absorb nutrients from the host
    heterothallic
    describes when only one mating type is present in an individual mycelium
    homothallic
    describes when both mating types are present in mycelium
    hypha
    fungal filament composed of one or more cells
    karyogamy
    fusion of nuclei
    lichen
    close association of a fungus with a photosynthetic alga or bacterium that benefits both partners
    mold
    tangle of visible mycelia with a fuzzy appearance
    mycelium
    mass of fungal hyphae
    mycetismus
    ingestion of toxins in poisonous mushrooms
    mycology
    scientific study of fungi
    mycorrhiza
    mutualistic association between fungi and vascular plant roots
    mycorrhizae
    a mutualistic relationship between a plant and a fungus. Mycorrhizae are connections between fungal hyphae, which provide soil minerals to the plant, and plant roots, which provide carbohydrates to the fungus
    mycosis
    fungal infection
    mycotoxicosis
    poisoning by a fungal toxin released in food
    obligate aerobes
    organisms, such as humans, that must perform aerobic respiration to survive
    obligate anaerobes
    organisms that only perform anaerobic respiration and often cannot survive in the presence of oxygen
    parasitism
    symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits at the expense of the other
    plasmogamy
    fusion of cytoplasm
    saprobe
    organism that derives nutrients from decaying organic matter; also saprophyte
    septa
    cell wall division between hyphae
    soredia
    clusters of algal cells and mycelia that allow lichens to propagate
    sporangium
    reproductive sac that contains spores
    spore
    a haploid cell that can undergo mitosis to form a multicellular, haploid individual
    thallus
    vegetative body of a fungus
    yeast
    general term used to describe unicellular fungi
    Zygomycota
    (also, conjugated fungi) phylum of fungi that form a zygote contained in a zygospore
    zygospore
    structure with thick cell wall that contains the zygote in zygomycetes

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