Basidiomycetes: Structure & Reproduction — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptCommonly known forms of basidiomycetes are mushrooms, bracket fungi or puffballs. They grow in soil, on logs and tree stumps and in living plant bodies as parasites, e.g., rusts and smuts. The mycelium is branched and septate. The asexual spores are generally not found, but vegetative reproduction by fragmentation is common. The sex organs are absent, but plasmogamy is brought about by fusion of two vegetative or somatic cells of different strains or genotypes. The resultant structure is dikaryotic which ultimately gives rise to basidium. Karyogamy and meiosis take place in the basidium producing four basidiospores. The basidiospores are exogenously produced on the basidium (pl.: basidia). The basidia are arranged in fruiting bodies called basidiocarps. Some common members are Agaricus (mushroom), Ustilago (smut) and Puccinia (rust fungus).
Which of the following statements are correct regarding Basidiomycetes? S1: The mycelium of these fungi is typically branched and septate. S2: Plasmogamy in Basidiomycetes is primarily achieved by the fusion of two non-motile gametes. S3: An intervening dikaryotic stage (n + n) is a characteristic feature in their sexual cycle. S4: Basidiospores are formed endogenously inside sac-like structures called asci. S5: Common examples include Mucor and Albugo, which are obligate parasites on plants. S6: Vegetative reproduction by fragmentation is a common method in this group.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — S1, S3 and S6 only
The core concept here is the distinguishing characteristics of Basidiomycetes. Let's evaluate each statement: S1: The mycelium is branched and septate. This statement is correct, as per NCERT. S2: The sex organs are absent, but plasmogamy is brought about by fusion of two vegetative or somatic cells of different strains or genotypes. This statement is incorrect as it mentions fusion of non-motile gametes, not vegetative cells. S3: In Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes, an intervening dikaryotic stage (n + n, i.e., two nuclei per cell) occurs. This statement is correct. S4: The basidiospores are exogenously produced on the basidium, not endogenously in asci. Asci are characteristic of Ascomycetes. This statement is incorrect. S5: Mucor and Albugo are examples of Phycomycetes, not Basidiomycetes. This statement is incorrect. S6: The asexual spores are generally not found, but vegetative reproduction by fragmentation is common. This statement is correct. Therefore, statements S1, S3, and S6 are correct. Option A correctly identifies S1, S3 and S6 as correct. Options B, C, and D include incorrect statements or miss correct ones. The tested concept is the specific features of Basidiomycetes, including their mycelial structure, reproductive processes, and absence of sex organs.
What does NCERT say about Commonly known forms basidiomycetes?
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