Fungal diversity

• What is the estimated number of fungal species?

  11.2 million
• What does convergent evolution in fungi indicate?

  Similar traits in diverse species
• What are pseudofungi?

  Organisms similar to fungi but aren't
• Why do not all fungi produce sexual structures?

  Some never observed sexual state
• What class were fungi that only reproduce asexually once classified in?

  Deuteromycetes
• What recent advancement has changed the classification of deuteromycetes?

  Molecular sequencing places them in existing phyla
• What does the term 'anamorph' refer to?

  Asexual stage, often mold-like
• What does the term 'teleomorph' refer to?

  Sexual stage, typically a fruiting body
• What is primogeniture in fungal nomenclature?

  First name or perfect state given takes precedence
• What are chytrids commonly known as?

  Water moulds
• What are the three chytrid phyla?

  chytridiomycotina, blastocladiomycota, neocallimastigomycota
• What is the primary nutritional mode of most chytrids?

  Majority are saprotrophs
• What is an obligate biotroph?

  Extracts nutrients only from living tissues
• What type of metabolism do chytrids exhibit?

  Anaerobic metabolism
• What is a key structural component of chytrid cell walls?

  Chitin
• How do chytrids synthesize lysine?

  Via alpha-aminoapidic acid
• What is the main thallus of chytrids?

  Zoosporangium
• What do zoosporangia contain?

  Zoospores
• What is unique about zoospores?

  They have a singular posterior flagella
• What is the flagellum structure in zoospores?

  9+2 arrangement of microtubules
• How do zoospores respond to their environment?

  They show chemotaxis
• What do zoospores do to survive harsh environments?

  Encyst to produce resting spores
• What role do chytrids play in decomposition?

  Decompose particulate organic matter
• How do chytrids affect cellulose in cattle?

  Major degrader of cellulose in rumen
• What do chytrids convert inorganic compounds into?

  Organic compounds
• What is a significant impact of chytrids on aquatic life?

  Pathogens of aquatic animals and plants
• What is a tripartite mutualism involving chytrids?

  • Mammal-Chytrid-Methanogen partnership
  • Obligate anaerobe uses hydrogenosome to produce energy. Product is hydrogen used by methanogens
• What is the role of Neocallimastix frontalis in the rumen?

  Primary invader of plant material
• What is the significance of rumen chytrid biomass?

  Can amount to 20% of total microbial biomass
• What is a major threat posed by chytrids to amphibians?

  • Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis can cause extinction
  • originated in Africa and spread to other parts of the world by trade in African clawed frogs
  • has been implicated in the extinction of the sharp snouted day frog of Australia
• What is the optimal temperature range for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis?

  4-25°C
• What type of pathogens are chytrids to plants?

  Biotrophic pathogens completely dependent on hosts
• What is the classification of zygomycetes?

  Polyphyletic with uncertain origin
• What are the subphyla of zygomycetes?

  Mucoromycotina, Entomophthoromycotina, Zoopagomycotina, Kickxellomycotina
• features of zygomycetes

  • Multinucleate mycelium
  • hyphae have no cross walls or septa (coenocytic)
  • asexual spores produced in a sporangium
  • sexual spores are known as zygospores
  • zygospores contain melanin and sporopollenin and are very long lived
• What did Max Delbruck study in 1953?

  Phototropism of sporangiophores of Phycomyces
• How do some zygomycetes affect host behavior?

  By taking over the brain
• What is zygomycosis?

  Disease caused by numerous zygos
• What is R. oligosporous used to make?

  Tempeh
• features of Glomerulomycota?

  • Most important group of fungi economically and ecologically
  • obligate mutualistic biotrophs (cannot be grown in the lab)
  • known as arbuscular mycorrhizae or vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae
  • 40 to 800um diameter - multinucleate spores
  • spores have a layered wall
  • no sexual cycle