Question

How many of the following statements are correct regarding the class basidiomycetes?
a) Clamp connections occur between adjacent cells.
b) Primary mycelium is well developed and elaborate.
c) Secondary mycelium develops fruiting bodies, called basidiocarps.
d) Some members produce multinucleate gametes called coenogametes.
e) Sexual reproduction is by gametangial contact or gametangial conjugation.
f) Hyphae are septate with dolipore septa.

a. Two
b. Three
c. Four
d. Five

Answer 1

Hint: The fungi constitute a unique kingdom of heterotrophic organisms. In some basidiomycetes clamp connections are a structure formed in their hyphae that ensures genetic variation. The basidiocarps are developed from the secondary mycelium. The dolipore septa are the walls dividing the cells in basidiomycetes.

Complete answer:
> Clamp connection- It is a hook-like structure developed from the growing hyphal cells. It ensures that each septum has nuclei, which are obtained by sexual mating. With the help of these genetic variations are made in the sexually reproducing organism.

> Basidiocarps- in basidiomycetes, karyogamy and meiosis take place in the basidium producing four basidiospores. The basidiospores are exogenously produced on the basidium. The basidia are then organized in fruiting bodies called basidiocarps. It is not found in rust and smut fungi.

> Hypha- it is the long, filamentous, and branching structure of the fungi. Dolipore septa are the walls dividing the cells in basidiomycetes. They have a barrel-shaped swelling and contain a central pore. It divides both monokaryotic and dikaryotic hyphae into segments.

> Basidiomycetes reproduce sexually by the formation of basidium, which is a specialized club-shaped cell.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Commonly known forms of basidiomycetes are mushroom, bracket fungi, or puffballs. They are found in soil, on logs and tree stumps, and in living plant bodies as parasites e.g. rusts and Smuts. Their mycelium is branched and septate. The sex organs are absent. Some common members are Agaricus, Ustilago, and Puccinia.