BIOL 1263

Tutorial questions-Microbiology Section

Introduction
Mycology
1. Define the fungi, as a major group of living organisms.
2. What are the structural units of the fungi?
3. Describe the characteristic features of moulds and yeasts.
4. What is the Y-M shift and which type of fungi does it relate to?
5. What are the two types of hyphae in relation to the presence or absence of cross walls?
6. Describe the distinguishing features of all the classes of true fungi.
7. Describe the different types of sexual and asexual spores produced by fungi.
8. Describe how the different types of asexual spores of fungi are formed.
9. What is cytoplasmic cleavage? What types of spores are formed by cytoplasmic cleavage?
10. What types of fruiting bodies are produced by ascomycetes?
11. Name three types of fruiting bodies produced by basidiomycetes.
12. Describe the importance of fungi to humans and the environment in relation to:
(a) Waste decomposition
(b) Food and beverage industry
(c) Medical and agro-industrial biotechnological applications
(d) Biological control of pests
(e) Human and plant health and disease
13. What is the importance of the following organisms to human health?
(a) Trichophyton rubrum
(b) Yeast -Malassezia globosa
(c) Aspergillus fumigatus
14. Name one genus of poisonous and one genus of hallucinogenic fungi.
15. Give an example of a fungus used in biological control of insect pests.
16. Illustrate the general sexual cycle of fungi and explain what takes place at each step of the cycle.
17. What stages of the true fungi are haploid (n), dikaryotic (n + n) and diploid (2n)?
18. What is the characteristic feature of the following types of fungi in terms of the presence of sexual
organs?
(a) Monoecious
(b) Dioecious
(c) Sexually undifferentiated
19. Explain the following as they relate to compatibility in sexual reproduction:
(a) Homothallic
(b) Heterothallic
(c) Secondary homothallic
20. What is plasmogamy and how does it occur in fungi?
21. What is karyogamy and where does it occur in the life cycle of fungi?
22. Describe the modes of nutrition of fungi.
23. Differentiate between necrotrophs and biotrophs.
24. What is the role of the haustorium? Explain.
25. What is the role of fungi in mycorrhizas and lichens?
26. Differentiate between endo and ecto mycorrhizas.
27. What is the importance of woronin bodies and the spitzenkorper?
28. What is the dolipore septum?
29. Explain the process of fungal hyphal tip extension.
30. Describe the different ways hyphae can be organized.