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General Biology: Evolution and Diversity of Plants and Fungi

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  • Land plants origin
    Land plants evolved from freshwater algae and developed adaptations for life on land.
  • Nonvascular plants
    First land plants lacking tracheids, with a gametophyte-dominant life cycle and limited vertical growth.
  • Seedless vascular plants
    Plants with vascular tissue and sporophyte-dominant life cycles; lignin supports vertical growth.
  • Seed plants groups
    Monophyletic group divided into gymnosperms (naked seeds) and angiosperms (seeds enclosed in ovaries).
  • Cuticle function
    Waxy film covering plant epidermis that helps retain water.
  • Stomata and guard cells
    Pores controlling gas exchange and water loss; guard cells regulate opening by changing turgidity.
  • Xylem and tracheids
    Xylem transports water and minerals; tracheids are long cells with lignin-reinforced secondary walls.
  • Phloem function
    Transports sugars, amino acids, and other nutrients throughout the plant.
  • Roots and leaves
    Roots absorb water and nutrients; leaves specialize in photosynthesis with microphylls or megaphylls.
  • Alternation of generations
    Life cycle with multicellular haploid gametophyte and diploid sporophyte stages.
  • Gametophyte vs Sporophyte
    Gametophyte is haploid and produces gametes; sporophyte is diploid and produces spores by meiosis.
  • Homospory vs Heterospory
    Homospory produces one spore type; heterospory produces microspores (male) and megaspores (female).
  • Pollen and seeds
    Pollen is male gametophyte with sporopollenin coat; seeds contain embryo and food supply with protective coat.
  • Bryophytes characteristics
    Nonvascular plants like mosses with gametophyte-dominant life cycles and homosporous reproduction.
  • Gametangia types
    Archegonia produce eggs; antheridia produce sperm; gametangia are contained in gametophores.
  • Sporophyte structures in bryophytes
    Includes foot (nutrient absorption), seta (nutrient transport), and capsule (spore production).
  • Seedless vascular plants reproduction
    Sporophyte-dominant, mostly homosporous, require water for sperm to reach egg.
  • Seed plant reproduction
    Microscopic gametophytes develop within sporangia; heterosporous with pollen and ovules.
  • Gymnosperm seeds
    Naked seeds not enclosed by ovary; sporangia usually in cones; can be monoecious or dioecious.
  • Angiosperm flower parts
    Sepals protect buds; petals attract pollinators; stamens produce pollen; carpels contain ovules.
  • Double fertilization in angiosperms
    Pollen tube releases two sperm: one fertilizes egg, other forms nutrient-rich endosperm.
  • Fungi characteristics
    Heterotrophic eukaryotes, mostly haploid nuclei, main decomposers in ecosystems.
  • Fungal body structure
    Hyphae are filamentous cells with chitin cell walls; mycelium is interwoven hyphae mass.
  • Fungal reproduction
    Reproduce sexually and asexually via spores; sexual reproduction involves plasmogamy and karyogamy.
  • Mycorrhizae types
    Ectomycorrhizae form hyphal sheaths outside roots; arbuscular fungi penetrate root cortical cells.
  • Basidiomycota reproduction
    Dikaryotic hyphae form basidia where karyogamy occurs; fruiting body is basidiocarp.
  • Ascomycota reproduction
    Dikaryotic hyphae form asci producing 8 haploid ascospores; asexual spores called conidia.