Kingdom Fungi Features Practice Questions
20 free Kingdom Fungi Features practice questions for the NCERT Biology. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which of the following is the primary mode of nutrition in Kingdom Fungi?
- A Autotrophic and photosynthetic
- B Chemoautotrophic, using inorganic compounds
- C Heterotrophic (Saprophytic or Parasitic)
- D Holozoic nutrition by engulfing food
Correct answer: Heterotrophic (Saprophytic or Parasitic)
Fungi lack chlorophyll and cannot perform photosynthesis. They are heterotrophs that absorb soluble organic matter from dead substrates (saprophytes) or live on other organisms (parasites).
What is the unique chemical component found in the cell walls of most fungi?
- A Cellulose and Hemicellulose
- B Chitin and Polysaccharides
- C Peptidoglycan
- D Silica and Pectin
Correct answer: Chitin and Polysaccharides
Unlike plants which have cellulosic cell walls, fungal cell walls are primarily composed of chitin, a tough polysaccharide, along with other complex sugars.
The vegetative body of most fungi consists of long, slender, thread-like structures called:
- A Mycelium
- B Hyphae (thread-like filaments)
- C Rhizoids
- D Pseudopodia
Correct answer: Hyphae (thread-like filaments)
Hyphae are the individual filament-like structures that make up the fungal body. A network or mass of these hyphae is collectively referred to as the mycelium.
Continuous hyphae filled with multinucleated cytoplasm, lacking cross-walls, are termed as:
- A Septate hyphae
- B Coenocytic hyphae
- C Monokaryotic hyphae
- D Dikaryotic hyphae
Correct answer: Coenocytic hyphae
In some fungi (like Phycomycetes), the hyphae are continuous tubes without septa (cross-walls) and contain many nuclei, a condition known as coenocytic.
Fungi that live in a mutually beneficial relationship with algae are known as:
- A Mycorrhizal partners
- B Lichens
- C Rust fungi
- D Smut fungi
Correct answer: Lichens
Lichens are symbiotic associations between a fungal partner (mycobiont) and an algal or cyanobacterial partner (phycobiont), where both benefit from the relationship.
Which of the following describes a 'Mycorrhiza'?
- A Symbiosis of fungi with algae to form lichens
- B Symbiosis of fungi with roots of higher plants
- C Parasitic fungi living on mustard crop leaves
- D Unicellular fungi widely used in bread baking
Correct answer: Symbiosis of fungi with roots of higher plants
Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association where fungi live in or on the roots of higher plants, helping in mineral absorption while receiving carbohydrates from the plant.
Asexual reproduction in fungi primarily takes place by which of the following spores?
- A Oospores and Ascospores only
- B Conidia, Sporangiospores, or Zoospores
- C Basidiospores and Zygospores exclusively
- D Gemmules and Fragmentation alone
Correct answer: Conidia, Sporangiospores, or Zoospores
Asexual spores like conidia, sporangiospores, and zoospores are produced by mitosis and are the most common means of asexual propagation in various fungal groups.
The sexual cycle in fungi involves three steps. Identify the correct sequence.
- A Karyogamy -> Plasmogamy -> Meiosis
- B Plasmogamy -> Karyogamy -> Meiosis
- C Meiosis -> Plasmogamy -> Karyogamy
- D Plasmogamy -> Meiosis -> Karyogamy
Correct answer: Plasmogamy -> Karyogamy -> Meiosis
The sexual cycle begins with the fusion of protoplasms (plasmogamy), followed by the fusion of nuclei (karyogamy), and finally meiosis to produce haploid spores.
In Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes, an intervening stage occurs where a cell has two nuclei (n + n). This is called:
- A Haplophase stage
- B Diplophase stage
- C Dikaryophase
- D Polyploidy stage
Correct answer: Dikaryophase
In higher fungi, plasmogamy is not immediately followed by karyogamy, leading to a dikaryotic stage (two nuclei per cell). This condition is known as the dikaryophase.
Which class of fungi is characterized by the presence of coenocytic and aseptic hyphae?
- A Ascomycetes
- B Basidiomycetes
- C Phycomycetes
- D Deuteromycetes
Correct answer: Phycomycetes
Phycomycetes (like Mucor and Rhizopus) are the most primitive group of fungi and typically possess hyphae that lack septa and are multinucleated.
Rhizopus is commonly known as:
- A Bread mould
- B Bracket fungus
- C Sac fungus
- D Puffball
Correct answer: Bread mould
Rhizopus is a member of Phycomycetes that grows on bread and other organic substrates, giving it the common name 'bread mould'.
Which of these fungi is a member of Ascomycetes and is used extensively in biochemical and genetic work?
- A Aspergillus
- B Claviceps
- C Neurospora
- D Penicillium
Correct answer: Neurospora
Neurospora crassa is often called the 'Drosophila of the plant kingdom' because of its significant role in genetic research and biochemical studies.
Ascomycetes are commonly known as:
- A Algal fungi
- B Imperfect fungi
- C Sac fungi
- D Club fungi
Correct answer: Sac fungi
Ascomycetes are called sac fungi because their sexual spores (ascospores) are produced inside a sac-like structure called an ascus.
In Basidiomycetes, where are the basidiospores produced?
- A Endogenously in the basidium
- B Exogenously on the basidium
- C Inside the ascus
- D Within the sporangium
Correct answer: Exogenously on the basidium
Unlike ascospores, basidiospores are produced exogenously (on the outside surface) of the club-shaped fruiting body known as the basidium.
Which of the following lacks a sexual stage and is known as 'Fungi Imperfecti'?
- A Phycomycetes
- B Ascomycetes
- C Basidiomycetes
- D Deuteromycetes
Correct answer: Deuteromycetes
Deuteromycetes are called imperfect fungi because only their asexual or vegetative phases are known. Once a sexual stage is discovered, they are usually moved to Ascomycetes or Basidiomycetes.
Agaricus, Ustilago, and Puccinia belong to which class of Kingdom Fungi?
- A Ascomycetes
- B Deuteromycetes
- C Basidiomycetes
- D Phycomycetes
Correct answer: Basidiomycetes
These fungi (mushrooms, smuts, and rusts) all belong to Basidiomycetes, characterized by their basidium and the absence of asexual spores (conidia) in many members.
Which of the following is a unicellular fungus?
- A Penicillium
- B Yeast (Saccharomyces)
- C Albugo (water mould)
- D Agaricus (mushroom)
Correct answer: Yeast (Saccharomyces)
While most fungi are filamentous and multicellular, Yeast is a notable exception being unicellular. It is vital for fermentation in the brewing and baking industries.
The fusion of two motile or non-motile gametes during the sexual cycle of fungi is called:
- A Karyogamy
- B Plasmogamy
- C Cytokinesis
- D Meiosis
Correct answer: Plasmogamy
Plasmogamy is the first step of sexual reproduction where the protoplasm of two compatible gametes or hyphae fuses, bringing two nuclei together in one cell.
Alternaria, Colletotrichum, and Trichoderma are examples of:
- A Sac fungi (Ascomycetes)
- B Imperfect fungi
- C Club fungi (Basidiomycetes)
- D Algal fungi (Phycomycetes)
Correct answer: Imperfect fungi
These genera belong to Deuteromycetes (Imperfect fungi). Many members of this group are important decomposers of litter and help in mineral cycling.
Which fungus causes wheat rust disease?
- A Ustilago
- B Puccinia
- C Albugo
- D Mucor
Correct answer: Puccinia
Puccinia is the fungal pathogen responsible for causing rust in cereal crops like wheat. It is a member of the Basidiomycetes.