Question

A club fungus has an erect, above-ground fruiting body and long, branching, underground hyphae.

How do the structures of the fruiting body and hyphae relate to their functions?

A. The fruiting body is curved to improve absorption of water, while the hyphae are long to allow for reproduction.

B. The fruiting body is curved to help the uptake of decaying plant material, while the hyphae are long to increase gas exchange.

C. The fruiting body is tall to maximize photosynthesis, while the hyphae are branched to support the release of waste products.

D. The fruiting body is tall to allow for spore dispersal, while the hyphae are branched to increase the absorption of nutrients.

Answer 1

The answer is; D

The fruiting bodies of fungi are found at the tip of a tall vertical stolon . This gives enough height for the spores to be carried by wind to greater distance further from the parent. This ensures proper dispersal and increases the chances of survival for the fungi.

The hyphae are found in the substrate as long-branched networks of thin strands. This increases the surface area for which the substrate is digested (extracellularly) and the nutrients absorbed.