Final answer:
The advantage for a basidiomycete to produce a showy and fleshy fruiting body is to aid in the dispersal of spores by attracting insects and other animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advantage for a basidiomycete to produce a showy and fleshy fruiting body is a) It aids in dispersal of spores by attracting insects. These eye-catching structures, which we commonly recognize as mushrooms, are the reproductive part of the fungus. Fruiting bodies like mushrooms ensure that the spores can be efficiently dispersed by various means. For example, some of the spores are produced in substances like nectar that attract insects. These insects not only feed on the nectar but also carry the spores to other locations, aiding in fungal reproduction.
Fruiting bodies are also produced at the surface of the food source. This exposure facilitates the shedding of reproductive spores, which can be transported by wind, water, or animals. Although much of the fungus remains hidden as mycelium, the fruiting body is a critical component of the sexual phase in a fungal life cycle.
The group known as Basidiomycota includes various fungi that form basidiocarps. Among these are edible mushrooms like Agricus campestris and toxic varieties such as the notorious Amanita phalloides, or death cap. In addition to aiding with spore dispersion, these fruiting bodies may also contribute to the attraction of humans who cultivate and disseminate mushrooms for culinary or agricultural purposes.