Basidiomycete
Basidiomycete
Basidiomycete (pronunciation: /bəˌsɪdɪəˈmaɪsiːt/) is a term used to refer to a member of the Basidiomycota, a large and diverse phylum of the kingdom Fungi. The term is derived from the Greek words 'basis' meaning 'base' and 'mykes' meaning 'mushroom'.
Basidiomycetes are characterized by the production of sexual spores called basidiospores that are formed on specialized cells known as basidia. The basidia are often borne on a larger structure called a basidiocarp, which is the fruiting body of the fungus.
Basidiomycetes include a wide variety of organisms, ranging from plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, to beneficial symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, and decomposers of wood and other plant material, such as mushrooms, bracket fungi, and puffballs.
Etymology
The term 'Basidiomycete' is derived from the Greek words 'basis' meaning 'base' and 'mykes' meaning 'mushroom'. This refers to the characteristic structure of these fungi, which produce their spores on a structure called a basidium.
Related Terms
- Basidium: A microscopic, club-shaped spore-bearing structure produced by certain fungi, especially the basidiomycetes.
- Basidiospore: A spore produced by a basidiomycete fungus.
- Basidiocarp: The fruiting body of a basidiomycete, which bears its spores on special cells called basidia.
- Mycorrhizal fungi: Fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants.
- Rusts and Smuts: Two groups of plant pathogenic fungi that are members of the Basidiomycota.
- Mushrooms, Bracket fungi, and Puffballs: Various types of fungi that produce large, often visible fruiting bodies.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Basidiomycete
- Wikipedia's article - Basidiomycete
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