Question 1

Sporophylls can be found in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Sporophylls are specialized leaves that bear sporangia, which produce spores. They are found in gymnosperms such as conifers, cycads, and ginkgos. Mosses, liverworts, and hornworts have sporophytes that are not differentiated into true leaves, stems, or roots, and therefore do not have true sporophylls. Charophytes are a type of green algae and do not have true sporophylls either.

Question 2

The vegetative (nutritionally active) bodies of most fungi are
I. composed of hyphae.
II. referred to as a mycelium.
III. usually underground.

Accepted Answer

All three statements are true - the vegetative bodies of most fungi are composed of hyphae, referred to as a mycelium, and usually underground.

Question 3

Which description applies equally well to fungal spores produced both sexually and asexually?
I. They are typically dispersed by wind and water.
II. Spores that germinate produce new mycelium.
III. They are produced in large numbers.

Accepted Answer

All three descriptions apply to fungal spores produced both sexually and asexually. They are typically dispersed by wind and water, spores that germinate produce new mycelium, and they are produced in large numbers.

Question 4

Fossil fungi date back to the origin and early evolution of plants. What combination of environmental and morphological change is similar in the evolution of both fungi and plants?

Accepted Answer

Both fungi and plants evolved to colonize land, which required adaptations such as the loss of flagellated cells for movement and the development of structures to prevent desiccation.

Question 5

In which of the following plant groups does the mature sporophyte depend completely on the gametophyte for nutrition?

Accepted Answer

In bryophytes, the mature sporophyte is dependent on the gametophyte for nutrition because it remains attached to the gametophyte and receives all its nutrients from it. In monilophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms, the sporophyte is an independent phase and has its own nutrition source through roots and photosynthesis.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of seedless vascular plants?

Accepted Answer

Whole forests were dominated by large, seedless vascular plants during the Carboniferous period. This is due to the fact that during this time, high concentrations of atmospheric oxygen allowed for the growth of larger plants. The gametophyte is not the dominant generation in seedless vascular plants, and while some extant species may be larger than extinct varieties, this is not a defining characteristic of the group. The sperm in seedless vascular plants are typically flagellated.

Question 7

Which process occurs in fungi and has the opposite effect on a cell's chromosome number than does meiosis?

Accepted Answer

Karyogamy is the fusion of nuclei from two haploid cells, which results in a diploid cell. This process occurs in fungi after plasmogamy, which is the fusion of two haploid cells' cytoplasm but not their nuclei. Karyogamy is the opposite of meiosis, which divides a diploid cell into four haploid cells.

Question 8

Which of the following terms refers to symbiotic relationships that involve fungi living between the cells in plant leaves?

Accepted Answer

Endophytes are fungi that live within plant tissues, including between the cells in plant leaves. They have a symbiotic relationship with the plant, as they can enhance the plant's growth and provide protection against herbivores and pathogens. Pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease, endosymbioses refer to a mutually beneficial relationship between two different species living together, lichens are symbiotic partnerships between fungi and algae, and mycorrhizae are symbiotic relationships between fungi and plant roots.

Question 9

If all fungi in an environment that perform decomposition were to suddenly die, then which group of organisms should benefit most, due to the fact that their fungal competitors have been removed?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotes, specifically bacteria, are known for their ability to decompose organic matter. Without fungal competition, they should be able to thrive and quickly decompose dead material, benefiting the ecosystem as a whole. Plants and animals rely on decomposers to break down organic matter for nutrient cycling, but they do not compete directly with fungi for this role. Protists and mutualistic fungi may play a role in decomposition, but they are not as significant as bacteria in this regard.

Question 10

Which group is noted for the independence of gametophyte and sporophyte generations from each other?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which group is noted for the independence...

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of hyphate fungi (fungi featuring hyphae)?

Accepted Answer

Hyphate fungi have a body plan consisting of elongated thread-like structures called hyphae. This adaptation allows for rapid directional growth towards new food sources, an important characteristic for nutrient acquisition in these organisms. The other choices do not accurately describe characteristics of hyphate fungi.

Question 12

When pathogenic fungi are found growing on the roots of grape vines, grape farmers sometimes respond by covering the ground around their vines with plastic sheeting and pumping a gaseous fungicide into the soil. The most important concern of grape farmers who engage in this practice should be that the

Accepted Answer

Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots that are important for nutrient uptake and overall plant health. Using a fungicide to target pathogenic fungi on the roots may also kill beneficial mycorrhizae, which could negatively impact the health of the grape vines in the long run. It is less important to consider the potential harm to native yeasts on the grapes or lichens on the branches, and the transparency of the sheeting is not a major concern.

Question 13

A botanist discovers a new species of plant in a tropical rain forest. After observing its anatomy and life cycle, he notes the following characteristics: flagellated sperm, xylem with tracheids, separate gametophyte and sporophyte generations with the sporophyte dominant, and no seeds. This plant is probably most closely related to

Accepted Answer

The presence of flagellated sperm and a dominant sporophyte generation with separate gametophyte and sporophyte generations are characteristics of ferns. Xylem with tracheids is also a characteristic of ferns. The absence of seeds rules out gymnosperms and flowering plants. Mosses and charophytes do not have flagellated sperm or tracheids in their xylem.

Question 14

Immediately after karyogamy occurs, which term applies?

Accepted Answer

Karyogamy is the fusion of two haploid nuclei to form a diploid nuclei. Therefore, immediately after karyogamy, the term that applies is diploid (D).

Question 15

A botanist discovers a new species of land plant with a dominant sporophyte, chlorophylls a and b, and cell walls made of cellulose. In assigning this plant to a phylum, which of the following, if present, would be least useful?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A botanist discovers a new species of...

Question 16

You are hiking in a forest and come upon a mysterious plant, which you believe to be a lycophyte or a monilophyte. Which of the following would be most helpful in determining the correct classification of the plant?

Accepted Answer

The presence of either microphylls or megaphylls is the most significant defining characteristic of lycophytes versus monilophytes. Lycophytes only have microphylls, while monilophytes have megaphylls. The other answer choices are not as specific to the classification of the plant.

Question 17

If humans had been present to build house structures during the Carboniferous period, which plant types would have been possible building materials?

Accepted Answer

During the Carboniferous period, which lasted from approximately 359 to 299 million years ago, there were no angiosperms (flowering plants) yet. The dominant plant types were ferns, horsetails, and lycophytes. Therefore, the best choice for possible building materials would be ferns, horsetails, and lycophytes (Choice D).

Question 18

When a mycelium infiltrates an unexploited source of dead organic matter, what are most likely to appear within the food source soon thereafter?

Accepted Answer

Fungal enzymes are necessary for the mycelium to break down the dead organic matter and use it as a food source. Chitin is a component of fungal cell walls but it is not directly involved in breaking down organic matter. Increased oxygen levels would be a byproduct of the fungal metabolism but not a direct result of the infiltration. Larger bacterial populations would not necessarily appear unless there were specific bacteria that also thrive on the same type of organic matter.

Question 19

Plasmogamy can directly result in which of the following?
I. cells with a single haploid nucleus
II. heterokaryotic cells
III. cells with two diploid nuclei

Accepted Answer

Plasmogamy results in the fusion of two haploid nuclei from different mating types, forming a heterokaryotic cell with two haploid nuclei. It does not result in diploid nuclei (option III) or a single haploid nucleus (option I).

Question 20

Assuming that they all belong to the same plant, arrange the following structures from largest to smallest (or from most inclusive to least inclusive).
1) spores
2) sporophytes
3) sporangia

Accepted Answer

Sporophytes are the largest, as they are the multicellular organisms in the plant life cycle that produce spores. Sporangia are structures found on sporophytes that produce and contain spores, making them smaller than sporophytes but larger than the spores themselves, which are the smallest, single-celled reproductive units.

Quiz 26: The Colonization of Land by Plants and Fungi