Chapter 20.1, Problem 3MI

Summary Introduction

To define: 

The terms given on the left side of the blank space.  

Introduction:

Fungi are multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms. They have cell walls in their cells like plants but the cells are devoid of chloroplasts and cell wall is made of chitin. Their bodies are called mycelium. Mycelium formed from thread like inter-woven filaments called hyphae. The hyphae of most fungi are divided into cells by internal walls called septa. Septa usually have large pores, through which nutrients and other materials flow among cells.

Explanation of Solution

The definition of the terms is given the table below:

Term	Definition
Chitin	It is strong, flexible polysaccharide found in the cell walls of all fungi and in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans.
Hypha	Thread like tubular filaments that are the basic structural units of multicellular fungi.
Mycelium	A net-like or interwoven mass form from the hyphae as they grow at their tips and branch repeatedly.
Fruiting body	A specialized hypha that grows above the ground form reproductive structure.
Septum	Cross-walls that divide the hyphae of a fungus into cells.
Haustorium	A specialized hyphae that grow into a host’s tissues and absorb their nutrients.
Spore	A reproductive haploid cell with a hard outer coat that develops into a new organism without the fusion of gametes.
Sporangium	A sac or case like structure that developed on the tip of a sporangium in which spores are produced.