Describe the role of hyphae in fungal reproduction and food intake.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Hey there,

your hyphae are basically long filaments of connected cells forming a great mass known as the mycelium. The thing to understand, then, is that these filaments (because they're so thin) can stretch for long distances in many directions; in other words, the surface area they cover is huge! 

So how do you think this relates back to food intake + reproduction?

anonymous · Answer

Uhh, since the filaments are so long they can connect the cells and make them reproduce,?

anonymous · Answer

I am so confusedd. /:

anonymous · Answer

Right! And since they're long and diffuse, that also facilitates the gathering of nutrients and water. 

A bit more info about reproduction:
You typically have two mating types (for example, + and -). When two hyphae from different mating types meet (this process is facilitated by what we discussed above) the cytoplasms fuse, followed by the formation of a fruiting body, like a mushroom, or a spore, like you find in your molds. Then, karyogamy (fusion of the nuclei) occurs, and the reproductive structure is complete. The details vary from specific group to group, but that's the main idea.

Hope that helped!

anonymous · Answer

Oh thanks so much!! (:

anonymous · Answer

FLVS right ? i have the same question