Patinga, Christine Mae V.

BSEDSCI 13 – A
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1. Differentiate fungus from its other divisions in the same domain.

The major divisions (phyla) of fungi have been classified based mainly on their sexual
reproductive structures. Currently, seven fungal divisions are proposed, but we will discuss only
four of them in detail: the phyla Zygomycota, Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and
Chytridiomycota.
 The Blastocladiomycota are commonly known as blastocladiomycetes. They are fungi
that are saprotrophs and are parasites of all eukaryotic groups. They undergo meiosis in
their spores unlike their close relatives, the chytrids, which mostly undergo meiosis of
zygotes.
 The Neocallimastigomycota are commonly known as neocallimastigomycetes. They are
anaerobic fungi that live in the digestive system of large herbivorous mammals. They do
not have mitochondria, instead they have organelles called hydrogenosomes that produce
ATP. Similar to chrytrids, neocallimastigomycetes form zoospores that have a single or
many flagella.
 Members of the Glomeromycota are fungi that form mycorrhizae with higher plants.
Only one species has been observed forming zygospores; all other species solely
reproduce asexually. The symbiotic association between the Glomeromycota and plants
is ancient, with evidence dating back to 400 million years ago.
 The Zygomycota reproduce sexually with spores called zygospores and asexually with
sporangiospores. Black bread mold (Rhizopus stolonifer) is a common species that
belongs to this group. Members of this phyla that can cause disease and food spoilage
include Mucor, Rhizomucor, and Rhizopus.
 Members of the Basidiomycota, commonly known as club fungi, produce spores called
basidiospores on club-like stalks called basidia. Most common mushrooms belong to this
group, as well as rust and smut fungi, which are major pathogens of grains. Other
important Basidiomyces include the maize pathogen, Ustilago maydis and commensal
species of the genus Malassezia.
 The Ascomycota are commonly known as sac fungi. These fungi form meiotic spores
called ascospores, which are enclosed in a special sac-like structure called an ascus. This
division includes morels, a few mushrooms, truffles, single-celled yeasts, and many
filamentous fungi living as saprotrophs, parasites, and mutualistic symbionts. Important
genera of filamentous Ascomycetes include Aspergillus and Penicillium, which are used
in food production, and Claviceps, a parasite of cereal crops. Many Ascomycetes species
have only been observed undergoing asexual reproduction.
  The Chytridiomycota are commonly known as chytrids. These fungi are found
worldwide. Chytrids produce zoospores that are able to move through aqueous
environments with a single flagellum. They had once been classified as protists on the
basis of their flagellum.
2. Why are fungi important as decomposers?
Fungi are an important component of soil biodiversity, and this diverse group of organisms can
aid in the resolution of global issues such as climate change and hunger. Fungi are inextricably
linked to vegetation, as well as carbon and nutrient cycling. As a result, among other ecosystem
functions, they are important drivers of soil health and carbon sequestration. Let's take a look at
some of the advantages of fungi. Fungi have the capability to turn nutrients so that they are
available for plant uptake. A few fungi are decomposers, which means they break down plant
and animal waste, cycling nutrients and increasing their availability in the soil. They can also
promote nitrogen fixation and phosphorus mobilization, which are two of the most important
nutrients for plant growth and productivity.
3. What organelles do you expect to find in a typical fungi?
The following membrane-bound organelles may be found in a typical fungal cell: nucleus:
endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, secretory vesicles and vacuoles.
Several of these organelles form extended membranous systems.
4. Describe a typical yeast, a typical mold.
Mold is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular filaments called hyphae. These tubular
branches have multiple, genetically identical nuclei, yet form a single organism, known as a
colony. In contrast, yeast is a type of fungus that grows as a single cell. Dimorphic fungi grow as
yeasts or spherules in vivo, as well as in vitro at 37°C, but as molds at 25°C.
5. Describe each of the following types of asexual fungal spores: sporangiospore, conidiophore,
blastospore.
Conidia and sporangiospores are the two primary asexual spore types produced by fungi. They
can be separated from one another by the mechanisms that lead to their formation and by the
morphology of the sporophore that creates them. Asexual spores include arthrospores, conidia,
chlamydospores, and sporangiospores. Sporangiospores are asexual spores that develop inside a
sporangium with a wall. Sporangiospores include the motile zoospores of chytrids released into
water from their zoosporangia and spores of zygomycetes exposed to the air by splitting the adult
sporangial wall. Conidia (singular conidium) are asexual spores formed on conidiophores.
Blastospores produce large amounts of mucilage, which improves adhesion to the host
integument. Blastospores germinate faster than conidia, which can also be an advantage in
initiating disease.

6. Give the importance of zygomycetes and ascomycetes in humans.

The Zygomycota represent an important group of medically important opportunistic fungi, which
cause devastating fungal infections in humans and animals with severe underlying immune or
metabolic disorders.
The ascomycetes are of particular use to humans as sources of medicinally important
compounds, such as antibiotics, for fermenting bread, alcoholic beverages and cheese.
Penicillium species on cheeses and those producing antibiotics for treating bacterial infectious
diseases are examples of ascomycetes.
7. How do some Fungi Imperfecta affects humans?
Many imperfect fungi cause serious diseases, either directly as parasites (which infect both plants
and humans), or as producers of potent toxic compounds, as seen in the aflatoxins released by
fungi of the genus Aspergillus.
8. What are chytrids and how are they important?
Chytridiomycota (true chytrids) are aerobic zoosporic fungi that operate as saprotrophs and
pathogens in freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats, and are also abundant in soil. The host
range of pathogenic chytrids includes other fungi, algae, plants, and amphibians. Chytrid
zoospores are a good food source for zooplankton in terms of size and shape. In addition,
zoospores are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cholesterol, which are essential
for the growth of crustaceans.
9. What is a plasmodium?
Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic protozoans of the sporozoan subclass Coccidia that cause
malaria. Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells in mammals (including humans), birds, and
reptiles, is found all over the world, particularly in tropical and temperate regions. The organism
is spread through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. Other insects as well as mites also
can transmit malaria to animals.
10. In a tabular form, differentiate the cellular and acellular slime molds.
Cellular Slime Molds Acellular Slime Molds
 The slime molds that exist in their  The slime molds enclosed within a
vegetative form as uninucleate single membrane without walls,
ameboid forming one large cell
 Live most of their lives as unicellular  Bags of cytoplasm with thousands of
protists individual nuclei, forming a
 Cluster in response to chemical signals multinucleate plasmodium form
 Somatic phase is haploid  Live in a ‘supercell’
 Aggregate, forming a  Somatic phase is diploid
pseudoplasmodium prior to the  No aggregation occurs prior to the
formation of sporangia formation of sporangia
 The sporangium is naked  The sporangia is coverd by peridium
 Capitalum is absent inside the  Capitalum occurs inside the
sporangium sporangium
 Meiosis does not occur inside the  Meiosis occurs inside the spores
spores  A flagellated stage in their life cycle
 Do not have a flagellated stage