How do fungi reproduce?

Answer 1

A fungus (plural fungi) is a eukaryotic organism that digests its food externally and absorbs the nutrient molecules into its cells. Along with bacteria, fungi are the primary decomposers of dead organic matter in most terrestrial ecosystems. Many fungi have important symbiotic relationships with many other organisms. Mycorrhizal symbiosis between plants and fungi is particularly important; over 90% of all plant species engage in some kind of mycorrhizal relationship with fungi and are dependent upon this relationship for survival.[1] [2] Fungi are also used extensively by humans: yeasts are responsible for fermentation of beer and bread, and mushroom farming and gathering is a large industry in many countries.

The branch of biology involving the study of fungi is known as mycology.

Reproduction
Fungi may reproduce sexually or asexually. In asexual reproduction, the offspring are genetically identical to the “parent” organism (they are clones). During sexual reproduction, a mixing of genetic material occurs so that the offspring exhibit traits of both parents. Many species can use both strategies at different times, while others are apparently strictly sexual or strictly asexual. Sexual reproduction has not been observed in some fungi of the Glomeromycota and Ascomycota. These are commonly referred to as Fungi imperfecti or Deuteromycota.

Yeasts and other unicellular fungi can reproduce simply by budding, or “pinching off” a new cell. Many multicellular species produce a variety of different asexual spores that are easily dispersed and resistant to harsh environmental conditions. When the conditions are right, these spores will germinate and colonize new habitats.

Sexual reproduction in fungi is somewhat different from that of animals or plants, and each fungal division reproduces using different strategies. Fungi that are known to reproduce sexually all have a haploid stage and a diploid stage in their life cycles. Ascomycetes and basidiomycetes also go through a dikaryotic stage, in which the nuclei inherited by the two parents do not fuse right away, but remain separate in the hyphal cells (see heterokaryosis).

In zygomycetes, the haploid hyphae of two compatible individuals fuse, forming a zygote, which becomes a resistant zygospore. When this zygospore germinates, it quickly undergoes meiosis, generating new haploid hyphae and asexual sporangiospores. These sporangiospores may then be distributed and germinate into new genetically-identical individuals, each producing their own haploid hyphae. When the hyphae of two compatible individuals come into contact with one another, they will fuse and generate new zygospores, thus completing the cycle.

In ascomycetes, when compatible haploid hyphae fuse with one another, their nuclei do not immediately fuse. The dikaryotic hyphae form structures called asci (sing. ascus), in which karyogamy (nuclear fusion) occurs. These asci are embedded in an ascocarp, or fruiting body, of the fungus. Karyogamy in the asci is followed immediately by meiosis and the production of ascospores. The ascospores are disseminated and germinate to form new haploid mycelium. Asexual conidia may be produced by the haploid mycelium. Many ascomycetes appear to have lost the ability to reproduce sexually and reproduce only via conidia.

Sexual reproduction in basidiomycetes is similar to that of ascomycetes. Sexually compatible haploid hyphae fuse to produce a dikaryotic mycelium. This leads to the production of a basidiocarp. The most commonly-known basidiocarps are mushrooms, but they may also take many other forms. Club-like structures known as basidia generate haploid basidiospores following karyogamy and meiosis. These basidiospores then germinate to produce new haploid mycelia.

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Answer 2

Fungi reproduce by releasing spores from a fruiting body. The fruit, called a mushroom, releases spores into the air, and the wind carries the spores off to start the next generation. Around 100,000 species of fungi are divided into five phyla, based largely on the characteristics of their reproductive organs.

Answer 3

Spores drop from the gills on the underside of a mushroom. Believe it or not, a mushroom is actually just the reproductive organ of the "organism" living off humus found in decaying leaves or rotting wood or whatever.

When spores drop out, they sit dormant untill climate conditions cause them to split open and produce what is basically like a sprout called a hyphae. These hyphae go on to form these silky white webs (kind of like roots) that are collectively called mycelium. It is the mycelium part of the structure that is actually the organism as it were.. it absorbs nutrients from its food source and breaks down the cellular structure of what it is growing on turning it back into the beginnings of topsoil--hence the reason why fungi are classified as decomposers.

When the mycelium has created enough energy, it sends up a mushroom full of new spores and waits for a disturbance to knock the spores out and the whole cycle repeats itself.

Sometimes spores can travel in the wind surprisingly far distances.

Answer 4

Fungi reproduce by means of spores.

Answer 5

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RE:
How do fungi reproduce?

Answer 6

They produce spores which are a kind of seed. The spores are airborne and can float some distance. They settle and grow into new fungi.

Answer 7

A 'fungus' is not the 'mushroom' we see on the surface of the soil, but the mass of mycelium growing under the soil. (I guess you are thinking of multicellular fungi rather than yeasts) This mycelium is normally haploid (one set of chromosomes), but when 2 different strains off mycelium meet they may fuse and produce a diploid form, capable of producing fruiting bodies - the 'mushroom'. These in turn produce haploid spores which go on to start new mycelia elsewhere

Answer 8

I'm not a botanist but I can tell you this. We visited a site in the Mourne mountains two years ago and encountered some wierd looking fungi. Fearful of the consequences we didn't touch the growths.
In September this year the same growths appeared in one(damp) area of two classrooms.
Queen,s University specialists identified these as being from the growth in the Mournes - draw your own conclusions.

Answer 9

Distribution of spores, by wind , external influences or minor biological explosions - much like me after beans

Answer 10

All you have to do is look in my boyfriends fridge. He keeps food in there for month's. He does not like to throw anything out. So after a while he has fungus all over the food. It is really awful.
By the way , my boyfriend is 51