Question

Coenocytic mycelium is
A. Uninucleate, septate
B. Multinucleate, septate
C. Multinucleate, aseptate
D. Both (b) and (c)

Answer 1

Hint:- Coenocytic mycelium is a characteristic feature of phycomycetes which belongs to fungi. Multinucleated mycelium is known as coenocytic mycelium. Filamentous fungi contain more than one nuclei in a coenocytic mycelium.

Complete Answer:-
Coenocytic mycelium is a mycelium where the hyphae lack septa. Hyphae are of two types i.e. aseptate and septate hyphae. Aseptate hyphae are also known as coenocytic hyphae. It is a characteristic feature commonly found in algal fungi. In algal fungi the mycelium in the vegetative phase usually lacks internal partitions of any kind. The hyphae are considered as multinucleate and aseptate. The mycelium is a continuous mass and it grows terminally by the apical elongation of hyphae accompanied by increase in the number of nuclei by nuclear divisions. The aseptate, multinucleate mycelium is named coenocytic mycelium, however, it is formed only to chop off reproductive structures. And also to seal off the damaged portion. Except for yeast, most of the fungi are filamentous with their body consisting of long thread-like structures called hyphae. Some hyphae are continuous tubes with multinucleated cytoplasm. Thus coenocytic mycelium is a network of multinucleated hyphae.

Hence the correct option is C (multinucleate, aseptate).

Note:- The body of fungi is made of a mass of branching hyphae and is known as mycelia. A coenocytic capabilities as a single coordinated unit made up of a couple of cells linked structurally and functionally, i.e. through gap junctions. Some filamentous algae such as Glomeromycota, Chytridiomycota and Neocallimastigomycota may carry multiple nuclei in a coenocytic mycelium.