Morphology and physiology of fungi

lbio1213  2024-2025  Louvain-la-Neuve

Morphology and physiology of fungi
2.00 credits
15.0 h + 10.0 h
Q1
> Schedule
Teacher(s)
Declerck Stephan;
Language
French
Prerequisites
To follow this course, it is necessary to master the knowledge and skills developed in the courses LBIO1111 (Cellular and Molecular Biology) and LBIO1117 (Ecology I)
Main themes
-Taxonomy : nomenclature and terminology ; main taxons (ascomycetes, zygomycetes, basidiomycetes and deuteromycetes) - Life cycles of some selected species representative of main taxons - Main groups of fungi - In vitro culture - Activity of decolouration by White Rot Fungi - Introduction to identification of fungal species - Physiology and secondary metabolites (emphasis put on mycotoxines) - Bases of fungi sexuality
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 Competences
  • Use of fungal terminology
  • Allocation of a fungal species to a main taxon
  • Ability to use identification procedures to the fungal species (including yeasts, molds and filamentous fungi)
  • Mastering the different forms of fungal sexuality and of principal asexual developments
Knowledge
  • Introduction to fungal terminology and associated references allowing autonomy to the student.
  • The main taxons and life cycles of some representative species.
  • The double nomenclature of sexual and asexual cycles (anamorphic and teleomorphic names).
  • The fungal sexuality (bipolar and tetra polar, tetrad analysis, homothallic, heterothallism, parasexuality).
  • Symbioses : lichens and mycorrhizes (ecto- and endomycorrhizes).
  • In vitro culture of endomycorrhizes.
  • Main groups of fungi and their applications in biotechnology and environmental bioremediation.
 
Content
The course is divided into seven main chapters. Chapter 1 introduces some notions of mycology and fungi. It recalls the main beneficial or harmful activities and the general characteristics of the world of fungi. Chapter 2 briefly traces the history of mycology through its main actors. Chapters 3 and 4 focus on the notions of taxonomy and systematics as well as on the positioning of fungi in the living kingdom. Chapter 5 discusses the fungal cell (composition, structure and ultrastructure, growth, anastomoses and healing mechanisms). Chapter 6 deals with sexuality (life cycles, sexual and asexual reproduction, conidiogenesis, homotalism, heterothalism, dikaryotism) of the major taxa (Ascomycetes, Zygomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Glomeromycetes and Deuteromycetes). Finally, Chapter 6 reviews the major fungal groups in the major taxa.
Teaching methods
The teaching method consists of two components: (1) theoretical teaching through which the seven chapters are addressed, (2) an excursion to the ‘bois de Lauzelle’ during which the students are familiarized with fungal diversity and the role of fungi in an ecological context (carbon cycle ...).
Evaluation methods
Written exam integrating the concepts taught in the practicalcourses and the excursion.
Online resources
Moodle
Faculty or entity
> BIOL


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Minor in Scientific Culture
MINCULTS
2
Bachelor in Biology
BIOL1BA
2
Minor in Biology
MINBIOL
2
Bachelor in Biology, Anthropology and Archaeology
BABA1BA
2