Chapter 20, Problem 18STP

Summary Introduction

To give reason:

Picking up mushrooms immediately after rain shower will not stop them from growing back.

Introduction:

The fungi have structures different from plants. They are made of long chains of cells. Threadlike filaments are the basic structural units that make up the body of a multicellular fungus. These filaments are called hyphae. They branch repeatedly to form a net like mass called mycelium.

Answer to Problem 18STP

The visible mushrooms are only part of the fungus. There are threadlike filaments called mycelium growing beneath the soil surface. These may grow for a long time producing more fruiting bodies above the surface. So, one cannot get rid of mushrooms by simply picking them up.

Explanation of Solution

Mushrooms are a group of multicellular fungi that grow during rainy season. They produce spores in reproductive structures called fruiting bodies. The fruiting body is made of hyphae that grow outward by extending their lengths, growing into new areas where a fresh supply of nutrients is available in the soil. The hyphae form the fruiting body above the soil as well as the mycelium below the ground.

After rain showers the mushrooms appear in the fields and gardens. Picking them only removes the fruiting bodies of these fungi. The hyphae producing these are still present below the surface. On getting fresh nutrients they will grow new fruiting bodies. So simply removing the mushrooms will not prevent them from coming back.