Final answer:
A fungal cell that can grow as either yeast or filament is known as dimorphic. These fungi can alter their form in response to environmental changes, such as temperature. Histoplasma capsulatum is an example of a dimorphic fungus.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fungal cell that can grow in two distinct forms, such as yeast or filament, is called dimorphic. Dimorphic fungi adapt to their environment by changing their growth form. An example of dimorphic fungi is Histoplasma capsulatum, which grows as mycelium at 25°C and as yeast cells at 37°C (human body temperature).
Other terms such as mycorrhiza refer to a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a plant, while hyphal refers to the filamentous growth structure of fungi. Septate refers to hyphae that are divided into separate cells by walls called septa, which can have tiny holes to allow for nutrient flow. In contrast, coenocytic hyphae lack septa and contain many nuclei within a single cell.