Mycology Terms and Definitions
Terms
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- Acropetal
- -spores are produced in a chain where the youngest spores is at the tip of the chain
- Aecio
- -prefix meaning cup
- Aecium
- -in rust fungi, a cuplike structure in which aeciospores are produced
- Aeciospore
- -a binucleate (dikaryotic) spore of rust fungi
- Aflatoxin
- -highly toxic substance produced by the Aspergillus fungus
- Anamorph
- -nonsexual (usually conidial) stage in a fungal life cycle (secual stage is the teleomorph)
- Anastomosis
- -hyphal fusion
- Aneuploid
- -condition in which an abnormal number of chromosomes is present in a cell
- Annulus
- -the 'ring'; a band of tissue encircling the stem of a mushroom (eg: commercial button mushrooms), sometimes movable
- Antheridium
- -a sperm producing structure
- Apex
- -tip
- Apical
- -at the tip (opposite of basal - at the base)
- Apo
- -prefix meaning open
- Apothecium
- -open disk like ascoma
- Appressorium
- -a flat swelling that forms on the end of a germ tube which adheres to the surface of the host before penetrating it
- Arbuscule
- -hyphae with a shrubby appearance which mycorrhizal fungi form inside root cells of the associated plant
- Areole
- - a portion of a lichen thallus separated from other areoles by cracks
- Arthropods
- -animals with exoskeletons, such as insects, spiders and crabs
- Arthrospore
- -a conidium formed from restructuring the walls of a septate hypha, so that it breaks into separate segments (hyphal fragmentation) eg Geotrichum
- Asco
- -prefix meaning sack
- Ascocarp
- -ascus bearing structure of an ascomycete
- Ascoma (ta)
- -ascus bearing structure of an ascomycete
- Ascogenous hyphae
- -hyphae containing paired haploid male and female nucle, that eventually give rise to asci
- Ascogonium
- -female gametangium of the ascomycetes
- Ascospore
- -spore produced within an ascus
- Ascus
- -sack like structure containing the sexual spores of ascomycetes
- Auto
- -prefix meaning self
- Axenic
-
-a culture that contains only one species and is free of any other living organism
-pure culture - Ballisto
- -prefix meaning throw
- Ballistospore
- -sexual spore formed externally on a basidium
- Basidium
- -structure producing the seual spores of basidiomycetes. 2 major kinds, distinguished by lacking (HOLOBASIDIA) or having (HETEROBASIDIA) septa.
- Basipetal
- -spores produced in a chain where the youngest spore is at the base of the chain
- Bitunicate
- -a type of ascus in which the wall has two functional layers, the inner membrane protrudes through the external membrane during spore release (compare with unitunicate)
- Blastic development
- -formation of a conidium by enlargement/maturation of a newly formed conidiogenous cell, before isolation by a septum. eg: phialides/phialospores
- Blastospore
- -a spore which has been budded off, as in yeast
- Budding
- -a process of multiplication in yeasts or sprores where there is development of a new cell (or spore) from a small outrowth
- Cap
- -the expanded, upper part of the mushroom
- Cap trama
- -interwoven sterile hyphae of a mushroom cap
- Capillitium
- -a mass of sterile fibres found in the interior of many spore bearing structures that appears to have an important function in spore disposal
- Central
-
-describing mushrooms
-with stem attched at the centre of the cap - Cephalodium
-
-a small globose body that contains an alga different from that present in the majority of a lichen thallus
-function is to fix nitrogen
-found in upper cortex or medulla - Chlamydospore
- -a thick walled spore produced by thallic development. Often pigmented
- Chitin
- -a tough, nitrogen containing polysaccharide forming the cell walls of certain fungi
- Chitridio
- -prefix meaning little pot
- Circinate
- -twisted round, coiled
- Clamp connection
- -in Basidiomycota, a lateral connection between adjacent cells of a hypha
- Cleisto
- -prefix meaning closed
- Cleistothecium
- -a closed, spherical ascoma
- Columella(-ae)
- -a sterile column of hyphae within a spore bearing structure, often extending a supporting stalk. Sterile central axis in a mature fruit body. Typical of zygomycete sporangia
- Coenocytic
- -an organism containing multiple nuclei not separate by cell walls
- Conidium(-ia)
- -asexually formed spore(s); a relatively thin walled asecual spore that is terminal on the conidiophore, and deciduous (falls off) at maturity
- Conidiogenous cells
- -cells that directly produce conidia, such as phialides
- Conidiophore
- -simple or branched hypha (a fertile hypha) bearing conidiogenous cells
- Convex
- -somewhat the shape of a half sphere, regularly rounded on top
- Coprophilous
- -living on shit
- Copulation zone
- -area on a culture plate where sexual fusion occurs
- Cortex
- -the outer layer of any organ or structure
- Corti
- -prefix meaning bark
- Corticolous
- -living on the bark of shrubs and trees
- Crozier
-
-a structure with a hooked end
-eg: as in ascomycetes - Crustose
- -flat crust like lichen thallus with no lower cortex that adheres closely to the substratum
- Cylindrical
- -having the shape of a cylinder
- Cyphella
- -small aerated opening found on the lower surface of the majority of lichens
- Cystidium
-
-a large, sterile cell that grows amoung the basidia often projecting beyond the hymenium
-usually plays a supportive role - Decomposer
- -organisms that break down organic material
- Dendroid
- -treelike in form
- Dentate
- -toothed
- Detritus
-
-loose natural material resulting from the disintegration of rocks or organisms
-organic garbage - Deuteromycete
-
-fungi whose life cycle is largely or exclusively asexual, reproducing by conidia
-typically when the secual stage is known, these are then known as ASCOMYCETES - Dichotomous
- -divided into 2
- Dikaryotic
- -having pairs of nuclei within cells
- Discharge papilla
- -exit pore for gametes in Allomyces gametangia
- Dung
- -shit
- Eccentric
- -not attached to the center
- Ectoplasm
- -outer gel like layer of cytoplasm that lies immediately beneath the plasma membrane
- Ellipsoid
- -elliptical, with both ends similar (see ovoid)
- Encyst
- -to become dormant and form a protective coating or cst
- Endoparasitic
- -organism that lives inside the body of another organism and benfits from the relationship at the expense of the host
- Endoplasm
- -the inner layer of cytoplasm within which are embedded cell organelles
- Ergot
- -term aplied to the disease of cereals caused by Claviceps spp.
- Eu
- -prefix meaning true
- Facultative parasite
- -an organism that has the ability to live on another living organism, or on dead organic material, depending upon the circumstances
- Fertile
- -able to produce spores
- Fertilization tube
- -a tube that originates from the antheridium aiding in the transfer of the male gametic nucleus
- Filiform
- -threadlike
- Flagellum(whiplash and tinsel)
-
-the motile apparatus of oomycetes and chtridiomycetes, containing a microtubular axoneme
-whiplash flagella (Oo & Chytrid) are smooth, and posterior to the direction of zoospore motion
-tinsel type flagella (Oo) are covered with mastigonemes and are anterior to the direction of zoospore motion - Fleshy
- -rather soft and spongy; often describing mushroom caps
- Foliose
- -type of lichen thallu made up of small leaf like lobes that extend in a circular pattern from a center of growth; possess both upper and lower cortex
- Foot cell
- -hyphal cell that supports a sporogenous cell
- Form genous
- -an artificial taxon given to a group of organisms based on structure or other characteristics when the true taxonomy has not been determined
- Fragile
- -easily broken
- Fruticose
-
-a lichen thallus that is attached to the substrate by a single point, develops branches and becomes shrub like
-radially symmetrical surrounded by a cortex - Funicular
- -being aggregated into little cords or bundles
- Furcate
- -forked
- Fusiform
- -spindle shaped, narrowing at each end
- Gametangium
- -sexual organ that contains gametes
- Gamy
- -prefix of suffix meaning fusion/union
- Gelatinous
- -the consistency of jelly
- Germ pore
- -special region of the spore from wich germination occurs, often appearing as a circle on the spore wall
- Germ sporangium
- -sporeangium which originates by the germination of an oospore
- Germ tube
- -short hypha that sprouts from the germ pore of a spore during germination
- Gills
- -blade like structures on the underside of mushroom caps in the Agaricales
- Globose
- -spherical or nearly so
- Grex
- -aggregation plasmodium
- Haustorium
- -an absorbant organ that originates from the hypha of a parasitic fungus
- Hetero
- -prefix meaning other
- Heterobasidium
- -septate basidium characteristic of rusts and smuts (the Teliomycetes)
- Heteroecious
- -parasitic fungus that completes part of its life cycle on one host and the other portion on a different species of host
- Heterokaryosis
- -genetically different nuclei associated in the same cell
- Heterokont
- -organisms with flagella of different length
- Heterotroph
- -organism that feeds on organic materials of other plants and animals
- Heteromerous
- -having a layered thallus (lichens)
- Heterothallism
- -self sterility
- Hilum
- -a scar indicating a point of attachment
- Holobasidium
- -basidium typically lacking septa with synchronous spore maturation; characteristic of mushrooms
- Homo
- -prefix meaning same
- Homokaryotic
- -a cell that has genetically similar nuclei
- Homoimerous
- -of a lichen thallus, having the fungal and algal components intermixed throughout
- Homothallism
- -self fertility
- Hyaline
- -devoid of colour
- Hydrophobins
- -molecules that repel water
- Hymenium
- -fertile layer of a sporocarp, for example on ascomata and basidiomata
- Hymenophore
- -part of the fungus on which the hymenium is borne
- Hypertrophy
- -abnormal increase in the size of cells
- Hypha
- -tubular filaments that represent the structural entity in the majority of the fungi
- Hypothallus
- -undifferentiated or marginal hyphal (fungal) outgrowth, in lichens
- Hypothecium
- -thin upper layer of the apothecial tissue on which the asci rest
- Inner veil
-
-protective tissue layer covering the gills in mushrooms
-will break at maturity leaving he annulus on the stipe - Intercalary
- -between base and apex
- Isidium
- -a microscopic outgrowth formed on the upper surface of the lichen thalli that serves to vegetatively propagate the species
- Isomorphic
- -organs or structures similar in shape
- Karyo
- -prefix meaning nucleus
- Karyogamy
- -fusion of 2 nuclei to form the zygote nucleus
- Lamella(ae)
- -a singl leaf (or leaves) of a gill in mushrooms
- Lignicolous
- -growing on wood
- Lirella
- -linear apothecium of lichens
- Lenticular
- -lens shaped
- Locule
- -a cavity
- Macroconidium(ia)
- -larger, generally more distinctive conidium form for a species that also has microconidia
- Macrocyst
- -a giant cell in whcih zygotes are formed during the life cycle of some slime molds
- Mastigonemes
- -hair like covering on tinsel type flagella
- Mazaedium
- -mucilaginous and powdery mass that appears in the ascocarp of certain ascomycetes; a pin like fruit body of certain lichens
- Medulla
- -internal tissue of an organ, soft or spongy in nature
- Membranous
- -like a membrane; thin and flexible
- Meristem
- -actively dividing cells
- merous
- -suffix meaning part (eg: trimerous means in 3 parts)
- Microconidium(ia)
- -smaller, less distinctive conidium form for a species that also has macroconidia
- Mushroom
- -the reproductive body of certain basidiomycetes; typically consists of cap, stem and gills
- Mutualism
-
-'living together' of unlike species to their mutual benefit
-eg: mycorrhizae, lichens - Mycelium(ia)
- -a mass of hyphae, with or without septa
- Mycobiont
- -fungal component of a lichen
- Mycoparasite
- -a fungus parasitic on another fungus
- Mycorrhizae
- -symbiotic association between hyphae of certain fungi and the roots of vascular plants
- Myxamoeba
- -the amoeba that results from germination of a spore
- oecious
- -suffix meaning house
- Ontogeny
- -developement
- Oogonium
- -unicellular female sex organ that contains one or several eggs
- Oosphere
- -female gametes formed within the oogonium
- Oospore
- -a spore that results from the fertilization of an oosphere
- Operculum
- -a covering to an open chamber
- Ostiole
- -opening at the top of reproductive structures
- Ovoid
- -like a hens egg, with one end narrower than the other, wide end at the base
- Para
- -prefix meaning beside
- physis
- -suffix meaning growth
- Paraphyses
- -sterile determinate hyphae that separate asci in some ascomata
- Parasexuality
-
-a secual reproductive process generating an offspring cel containing genetic material from more than a single parent but without standard meiosis or fertilization
-shitty mitosis
-occurs in deutormycetes
-3 stages: 1) heterokaryosis; 2)diploidization; 3)haploidization - Parasitic
- -living on or within another organism and obtaining nutrients at the expense of that organism (see mutualistic and symbiotic)
- Pendulous
- -hanging down
- Per
- -prefix meaning 'more than'
- Perforate
- -having pores
- Peri
- -prefix meaning around
- Peridiole
- -small round bodies that contain the basidia and basidiospores in Nidulariales
- Peridium
- -a wall that envelopes a fruiting body
- Persistent
- -remaining for a long time
- Perithecium
- -a flasklike ascoma
- Phago
- -prefix meaning to eat
- Phagocytosis
- -uptake of materials into cells by means of infagination of the plasma membrane
- Phagotroph
- -an organism feeding by means of phagocytosis
- Phialide
-
-a cell that develops an open end from which a succession of spores are produced, without the phialide increasing in length
-Basipetal spore formation
-phialides are typically flask shaped and are characteristic of Penicillium and Aspergillus spp - Phototrophic
- -an organism whose nutritional mode of obtaining energy is derived from light to synthesize organic compounds by photosynthesis
- Phycobiont
- -the algal component of a lichen
- Pileus
- -the outer sterile covering of a mushroom cap
- podium
- -suffix meaning foot
- Plasmodium
- -vegetative, multinucleate, motile mass of cytoplasm, lacking cell wall and contained within a single cell membrane, characteristic of myxomycetes (see pseudoplasmodium)
- Plasmogamy
- -fusion of the protoplasts of gametes
- Podetium
- -an erect stem like structure on which apothecia are formed in fruticose lichens
- Pore
- -structure in the tips of some asci, often containing starch
- Pro
- -prefix meaning before
- Progametangium
- -a lateral hyphal branch that differentiates into a gametangium and then later a suspensor of the zygosporangium, in Zygomycota
- Propagule
- -any structure that serves to propagate or vegetatively multiply an organism
- Pseudo
- -prefix meaning false
- Pseudohyphae
- -hyphae like chains of linked yeast cells
- Pseudoplasmodium
- -plasmodium formed by aggregation of amoeboid cells, then behaving as a single entity before sporulation, characteristic of Dictyostelium (compare with plasmodium)
- Pseudothecium
- -an ascostroma bearing asci in unwalled locules
- Pycnidium(a)
- -flask shaped fruiting bodies containing conidia (asexual spores), and resembling a perithecium
- Recurved
- -curved with the outside of the curve expanded (like a sickle, or a new moon)
- Resting spore
- -thick walled spore that requires a period of dormancy before before germination
- Rhizoid
- -a root like structure, a filamentous branch like extension for feeding rather than reproduction
- Rhizomorph
- -a specialized root like structure found in certain fungi
- Sapro
- -prefix meaning rotten
- Saprobic/Saprophytic
- -gaining nutrients from dead, organic material
- Saxi
- -prefix meaning rock
- Saxicolous
- -organism that lives attached to the surface of rocks
- Sclerotium
- -firm, frequently rounded mass of hyphae, lacking spores per se, but functioning for long term survival
- Septum
- -a transverse wall in a cell or a hypha
- Sessile
- -without a stem; attached directly to the substrate
- Setae
- -bristles
- Shuttle streaming
- -periodic reversal of cytoplasmic streaming in plasmodium of slime molds
- Simple
- -opposite of branched
- Somatogamy
- -the fusion of somatic cells during plasmogamy
- Soralium
- -a cortical pustule of various types in the lichen thallus through which the soredia are released to the exterior
- Soredium
- -vegetative propagule of lichens; it consists of minute clusters of algal cells surrounded by fungal hyphae
- Sorocarp
- -sexual reproductive structure in which haploid meiotic spores are formed
- Sorus
- -fruiting structure consisting of a mass of spores and sporangia
- Spermagonium
- -structure in which spermatia are produced
- Spermatiophore
- -specialized hypha that produces spermatia
- Sporangiophore
- -specialized hypha that produces and supports one or more sporangia
- Sporangium
- -large asexual sporogenous structure in oomycetes, chytridiomycetes, zygomycetes, containing many sporangiospores
- Sporangiospore
- -non sexual spore produced by rearrangement/packaging of preexisting cytoplasm within a sporangium
- Spore
-
-general term for a reproductive structure of fungi, that does not contain an embryo
-in fungi, spores may be single or multicelled - Sporocladium(ia)
- -complex of zygomycete sporangia
- Sporodochium(ia)
- -cushion of laterally fused or compacted conidiophores, typical of Fusarium sp.
- Sp(p)
- -abbreviation for species, singular and plural
- Stalked
- -with a stem
- Stellate
- -star shaped
- Sterigma
- -small projection upon which basidiospores are formed
- Stipe
- -stalk of mushroom
- Stolon
- -horizontal hypha that vecomes anchored in the substrate at points of contact
- Stroma
- -fused mass of hyphae appearing as a tissue
- Subtending
- -extending from underneath
- Suspensor
- -a hyphal branch that supports
- Swarm cells
- -motile spores, also known as zoospores
- Symbioses
- -'living together' of unlike species to their mutual benefit
- Teleomorph
- -sexual stage in a fungal life cycle (nonsexual stage is the anamorph)
- Teliospore
- -in rust fungi, a thick walled spore in which karyogamy and meiosis occur
- Telium
- -the structure that produces teliospores
- Terrestrial
- -on the ground
- Terri
- -prefix meaning earth
- Terricolous
- -an organism that lives in the soil
- Thallic developement
-
-conidia are derived from a pre existing cell, the fertile hypha
-septa are inserted after growth of the fertile hypha has ceased, and additional wall changes may occur - Thallus
- -multicellular vegetative body, typically mycelial, and typically non motile
- thecium
- -suffix meaning case
- Tinsel flagella
- -flagellum that bears small filaments (MASTIGONEMES) extending from its main axis
- Trama
- -the inner sterile tissue of the cap or gill
- Trichogyne
- -a receptive protuberance of the female gametangium for the conveyance of spermatia (Rhodophyta) or male nuclei (Ascomycota)
- Umbilicus
- -structure for attachment of thallus in certain lichens
- Unitunicate
- -asci with a single membrane layer, sometimes with a pore structure or operculum (lid)
- Universal veil
- -covering that surrounds the basidocarp
- Urediniospore
- -in rust fungi, a reddish, binucleate spore
- Uredinium
-
-the structure that produces urediniospores
-the pustule