Question

A coprophilous fungus is
(a) Trichoderma
(b) Pilobolus
(c) Fusarium
(d) All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The fungi which grow and survive on animal dung are called Coprophilous fungus. The saprophytic organisms consume on dung and decay matter and the saprophytic fungi mostly fall in this.

Complete answer:
As we know that Pilobolus is a fungus which grows on the feces of grazing animals, it is also a coprophilous fungus. The growth of fungi on animal dung is referred to by the name coprophilous fungus.

So the correct answer is ‘Pilobolus’.

Additional information:
Life cycle: Coprophilous fungi release their spores to the places near them that is the surrounding medium, which is then eaten by herbivores. The spores then remain within the animal because the plants are digested, undergo the animal's intestines, and are finally defecated. from the animal feces, the fruiting bodies grow.
Life Cycle of Pilobolus:: The life cycle of Pilobolus begins with a black sporangium that has been discharged onto a plant substrate like grass. A herbivorous animal like a horse then eats the substrate, unknowingly consuming the sporangium also. The Pilobolus sporangium survives the passage through the alimentary canal without germinating and emerges with the excrement. Once outside its host, spores within the sporangium germinate and grow as a mycelium within the excrement, where it's a primary colonizer. Later, the fungus fruits to supply more spores.
Pilobolus sporangium
The asexual fruiting structure (the sporangiophore) of the Pilobolus species is exclusive. It consists of a transparent stalk that rises above the excrement to finish during a balloon-like sub sporangial vesicle. a single, black sporangium develops on the top. The sporangiophore has the remarkable ability to orient itself to point directly towards a light- weight source. The developing sporangiophore grows such that the maturing sporangium is aimed directly at the sunshine.

Note:
- Coprophilous fungi are found to be developing on the dungs or feces of the animals.
- The hardy spores of this coprophilous species are usually consumed by the plant-eaters like herbivores by eating plants along with them and are excreted alongside the plant matter through feces.