Question

The cell wall of Agaricus is made up of what?

Answer 1

Hint: Agaricus is a Fungi. Basidiomycetes are the most advanced fungi and constitute a large group of about 25,000 species. They are the most commonly seen fungi as their fruiting bodies are quite large, e.g. mushrooms, toad stools, puff balls, etc. Some cause the worst plant diseases like smuts and rusts while some are also the best decomposers of wood materials.

Complete answer:
Agaricus campestris is a common mushroom with edible basidiocarp. It is a saprophytic fungus that grows in the open fields, grasslands, humus rich soils, piles of straw and rotting wooden legs.

Fungal cell wall is made up of chitin. Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide which is found naturally. It is also present in the shells of crabs, shrimps, insects etc. The chitin makes the cell wall rigid and also provides shape.The structure of Fungal cell wall is given below.

Additional Information: In Agaricus, the mycelium is of two types – primary (having monokaryotic cells) and secondary (having dikaryotic cells). Many basidiomycetes produce fructi cations called basidiocarps. Some of them are edible and others are highly poisonous. The monokaryotic mycelium belongs to two different compatible mating types referred to as positive and negative strains. When the hyphae of two mating types come in contact, there occurs fusion between their cells or somatogamy. It results in the fusion of the protoplast of the cells or plasmogamy. It gives rise to a dikaryotic cell which grows into a secondary mycelium.

The correct answer is chitin.

Note: The mushrooms are basidiocarp forming basidiomycetes. Agaricus campestris, A. bispores, Armillaria mellea are some edible mushrooms. Psilocybe Mexicana (sacred mushrooms) yield a hallucinogenic substance similar to LSD.