Question

1. Give3 economic importance of species under Phylum Basidiomycota

2. Give some human benefits of lichens and mycorrhizae.

Answer 1

1. The Phylum Basidiomycota includes most advanced fungi. Most of the members are parasitic while others are saprophytes. The mycelium is well developed , branched and septate. The spores are known as basidiospores and the fruiting body is known as basidiocarp.Few economic importance of Basidiomycetes are:

# The members of the order Agaricales mostly include saprophytes. Its members like the Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus campestris are widely cultivated and consumed as edible mushrooms. They are rich source of proteins as well as vitamin B.

# Clavatia is known to have a substance called Clavicin which is an important anti cancer substance.

# Members like toadstools ,that have large fruiting bodies are important decomposers in the forest ecosystem the help in decomposing of leaves litter and animal dung. They play an important role in cycling the nutrients and maintaining the biogeochemical cycle. They help in keeping the forest floor clean.

2. Lichens are an association between a fungus and an algal photosynthetic symbiont, resulting in a composite thalloid structure. The algal component is known as phycobiont and the fungal component is known as mycobiont. The algal component photo synthesizes and produces carbohydrates ,while the fungal component helps in absorption and retention of water.

Lichens are used as food in many parts of the world especially in Polar and Siberian regions. Lichenin, a polysaccharide found in lichens is usually used in medicinal compositions in ayurvedic medicines. Besides this, lichens are good indicators of air pollution.

A symbiotic relationship between fungal hyphae and roots of higher plants is known as mycorrhiza. The fungal partner obtains food from the plant and and in return it provides water and minerals by absorption.

Mycorrhizae help in improving water infiltration and also bind to the soil and prevent soil erosion. It helps in increasing the inorganic mineral supply to the plant roots and hence helps the farmer by decreasing the need of large amount of fertilizer.