GLOSSARY

A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z
 

 

A
ACHLOROPHYLLOUS  (Gr. a, not; chloros, green; phyllon, leaf) Lacking chlorophyll.
ARBUSCLES  Finely branched hyphae produced by endomycorrhizas, which can grow both inter- and intracellularly with regard to root cortical cells.  The site of nutrient exchange between plant and fungus.
ASCOCARP  (Gr. askos, sac; karpos, fruit) a spore producing body.
ASCOMYCOTA  One of the four phylum of the true fungi.  See also Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota.
ASEPTATE  Having no crosswalls (c.f. septate).

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B
BASIDIOMYCOTA  One of the four phylum of the true fungi.  See also Ascomycota, Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota.
BIOTROPHIC  Requiring a living host cell to feed on, growing on another organism, in intimate association with its cytoplasm.
C
CHLAMYDOSPORE  An asexual one-celled spore.
CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA  One of the four phylum of the true fungi.  See also Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Zygomycota

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D

DEUTEROMYCOTA  Fungi that only reproduce asexually
E
ECTENDOMYCORRHIZA  Mycorrhiza showing characteristics of both ecto- and endo- mycorrhizas. 
ECTOMYCORRHIZA  (Gr. ecto, outside) Mycorrhizas with hyphae that do not penetrate cells.
ENDOMYCORRHIZA  (Gr. endo,  inside) Mycorrhizas with hyphae which penetrate cells.
EPIGEOUS  (Gr. epi, upon; ge, earth) Growing on the surface.
 
F
FACULTATIVE  SYMBIONT  Plants or fungi able to form mycorrhizas, but also capable of completing their life cycles without forming mycorrhizas.

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G
H
HARTIG NET  The network of hyphae found intercellularly between root cortical cells.  Formed by ectomycorrhizas, and the site of nutrient exchange.
HYPHA  (Gr.  hypha, thread) The tubular cell growing at one end, which is the developmental unit of a mycelium. (pl. = hyphae)
HYPOGEOUS  Produced lower down, in the earth, having subterranean spores.
I
J

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K
L
M
MUTUALISM  A symbiotic relationship in which both or all partners benefit from the association i.e. their fitness is increased.
MYCELIUM  The collective term for hyphae. (pl. = mycelia)
MYCORRHIZA  (Gr. mukes, fungus; rhiza, root) Mutualistic relationship between plant root and fungal mycelium.  (pl. = mycorrhizas)
N

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O
OBLIGATE SYNBIONT/BIOTROPH  Plants or fungi not able to complete their life cycles without forming mycorrhizas.
P
PROTOCORM  An orchid seed that has germinated, following fungal infection.
Q
R
RHIZOID  (Gr. rhiza, root; oeides, like) A short thin branch of thallus, superficially resembling a root.
RHIZOMORPH  (Gr. rhiza, root; morphe, shape) A thick strand of somatic hyphae, in which the hyphae have lost their individuality, with the whole mass behaving as a organised unit i.e. like the tip of a root.

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S
SEPTATE  (L. septum, hedge) With more or less regularly occurring crosswalls.
SPOROCARP  General term for spore-bearing organ; fruit body.
SYMBIOSIS  A intimate relationship between 2 or more individuals of different species.  The nature of the contact is not specified.
T
THALLUS  (pl. = thalli) the `body' of a fungus. 
TRUFFLES  Common name for the hypogeous ascocarps of members of the genus Tuber (Zygomycota)
U
V
VESICLES  Swollen lipid filled bodies produced in plant root cells by most, but not all endomycorrhizas.  Used for storage.
W

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X
Y
Z
ZYGOMYCOTA  One of the four phylum of the true fungi.  See also Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Chytridiomycota.

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Definitions from Alexopoulous et al (1996).
 

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