Morphology of fungi MCQs With Answer

Morphology of fungi MCQs With Answer is an essential revision resource tailored for B. Pharm students preparing for pharmacology, microbiology, and mycology exams. This concise, keyword-rich introduction covers fungal morphology topics such as cell wall composition (chitin, glucans, mannoproteins), membrane sterols (ergosterol), hyphal types (septate, coenocytic, pseudohyphae), spores (conidia, sporangiospores, ascospores, basidiospores), dimorphism, and diagnostic features like germ tube and India ink tests. Questions emphasize identification, structural adaptations (haustoria, rhizoids, sclerotia), and clinically relevant genera (Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, Mucor). Clear, focused MCQs with answers will strengthen your conceptual understanding and clinical application. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which polysaccharide is the main structural component of the fungal cell wall?

• Cellulose
• Peptidoglycan
• Chitin
• Glycogen

Correct Answer: Chitin

Q2. What is the primary sterol found in fungal cell membranes targeted by many antifungals?

• Cholesterol
• Ergosterol
• Sitosterol
• Lanosterol

Correct Answer: Ergosterol

Q3. Hyphae that lack septa and form a continuous cytoplasmic mass are called:

• Septate hyphae
• Pseudohyphae
• Coenocytic hyphae
• Clamp connections

Correct Answer: Coenocytic hyphae

Q4. A unicellular fungus that reproduces by budding is known as a:

• Mold
• Yeast
• Dimorphic fungus
• Coenocyte

Correct Answer: Yeast

Q5. Typical thermal dimorphism in pathogenic fungi means they grow as mold at 25°C and as yeast at 37°C. Which statement reflects this?

• Grow as yeast at 25°C and mold at 37°C
• Grow as mold at 25°C and yeast at 37°C
• Remain yeast at all temperatures
• Remain mold at all temperatures

Correct Answer: Grow as mold at 25°C and yeast at 37°C

Q6. Conidia are asexual spores produced on specialized hyphae called:

• Sporangia
• Conidiophores
• Zygospores
• Asci

Correct Answer: Conidiophores

Q7. Sporangiospores contained within a sporangium are characteristic of which fungal group?

• Ascomycetes
• Basidiomycetes
• Zygomycetes
• Deuteromycetes

Correct Answer: Zygomycetes

Q8. Sexual spores produced inside an ascus are called:

• Basidiospores
• Zygospores
• Ascospores
• Sporangiospores

Correct Answer: Ascospores

Q9. In Basidiomycetes sexual spores are borne on which structure?

• Ascus
• Sporangium
• Basidium
• Conidiophore

Correct Answer: Basidium

Q10. Clamp connections are a morphological feature characteristic of which fungal division?

• Ascomycetes
• Basidiomycetes
• Zygomycetes
• Chytridiomycetes

Correct Answer: Basidiomycetes

Q11. The germ tube test is primarily used to identify which Candida species?

• Candida tropicalis
• Candida krusei
• Candida albicans
• Candida glabrata

Correct Answer: Candida albicans

Q12. Pseudohyphae are best described as:

• True hyphae with parallel walls and continuous cytoplasm
• Chains of elongated budding cells with constrictions at septa
• Coenocytic hyphae without septa
• Clamp-connected multicellular filaments

Correct Answer: Chains of elongated budding cells with constrictions at septa

Q13. Which dermatophyte genus commonly produces numerous rough-walled macroconidia?

• Trichophyton
• Epidermophyton
• Microsporum
• Candida

Correct Answer: Microsporum

Q14. Woronin bodies are organelles that function to:

• Aid in spore dispersal
• Produce ergosterol
• Seal septal pores after hyphal injury
• Synthesize chitin

Correct Answer: Seal septal pores after hyphal injury

Q15. The Spitzenkörper is associated with which cellular process in hyphae?

• Nuclear division
• Septum formation
• Apical (tip) growth and vesicle organization
• Sporulation

Correct Answer: Apical (tip) growth and vesicle organization

Q16. Haustoria are specialized hyphal structures that function to:

• Produce airborne spores
• Absorb nutrients from host cells
• Anchor the fungus to substrate
• Form sexual spores

Correct Answer: Absorb nutrients from host cells

Q17. Arthroconidia are produced by which mechanism?

• Formation inside an ascus
• Fragmentation of hyphal cells
• Budding from yeast cells
• Produced within a sporangium

Correct Answer: Fragmentation of hyphal cells

Q18. Chlamydoconidia are primarily:

• Thin-walled motile spores
• Sexual spores of Basidiomycetes
• Thick-walled survival spores
• A type of conidiophore

Correct Answer: Thick-walled survival spores

Q19. The term for the asexual morphological form of a fungus is:

• Teleomorph
• Anamorph
• Holomorph
• Mycelium

Correct Answer: Anamorph

Q20. Which encapsulated yeast is diagnosed by India ink demonstrating a polysaccharide capsule?

• Cryptococcus neoformans
• Candida albicans
• Aspergillus fumigatus
• Histoplasma capsulatum

Correct Answer: Cryptococcus neoformans

Q21. Which genus of zygomycetes characteristically has rhizoids located directly beneath sporangiophores?

• Mucor
• Rhizopus
• Aspergillus
• Penicillium

Correct Answer: Rhizopus

Q22. Which fluorescent stain binds to chitin and is used to visualize fungal elements?

• Gram stain
• India ink
• Calcofluor white
• Giemsa stain

Correct Answer: Calcofluor white

Q23. Which dimorphic fungus causes pulmonary disease and is often found as intracellular yeast in macrophages?

• Blastomyces dermatitidis
• Histoplasma capsulatum
• Coccidioides immitis
• Aspergillus fumigatus

Correct Answer: Histoplasma capsulatum

Q24. A sclerotium is best described as:

• A motile zoospore
• A compact, hardened mass of hyphae serving as a survival structure
• An asexual conidium
• A sexual basidium

Correct Answer: A compact, hardened mass of hyphae serving as a survival structure

Q25. Which yeast genus reproduces primarily by fission rather than budding?

• Saccharomyces
• Candida
• Schizosaccharomyces
• Cryptococcus

Correct Answer: Schizosaccharomyces

Q26. The dolipore septum with a parenthesome is a distinguishing septal structure of:

• Ascomycetes
• Basidiomycetes
• Zygomycetes
• Glomeromycetes

Correct Answer: Basidiomycetes

Q27. The network of interlacing hyphae that forms the vegetative body of a fungus is called the:

• Basidium
• Mycelium
• Ascus
• Sporangium

Correct Answer: Mycelium

Q28. Dermatophytes primarily colonize which type of tissue?

• Mucous membranes
• Keratinized tissues (skin, hair, nails)
• Bloodstream
• Bone marrow

Correct Answer: Keratinized tissues (skin, hair, nails)

Q29. How many ascospores are typically produced in a single ascus of many ascomycetes?

• 2
• 4
• 8
• 16

Correct Answer: 8

Q30. A typical basidium bears how many basidiospores?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Correct Answer: 4

Q31. The macroscopic fruiting body of a mushroom-producing fungus is called a:

• Ascocarp
• Basidiocarp
• Sporangium
• Conidiophore

Correct Answer: Basidiocarp

Q32. Azole antifungal drugs inhibit which fungal biosynthetic pathway?

• Cell wall chitin synthesis
• Ergosterol synthesis (lanosterol demethylase)
• Protein synthesis at ribosomes
• DNA gyrase activity

Correct Answer: Ergosterol synthesis (lanosterol demethylase)

Q33. Mannoproteins in the fungal cell wall are rich in which monosaccharide?

• Glucose
• Fructose
• Mannose
• Galactose

Correct Answer: Mannose

Q34. Septate hyphae with dichotomous acute-angle branching (~45°) are characteristic of which genus?

• Aspergillus
• Rhizopus
• Blastomyces
• Mucor

Correct Answer: Aspergillus

Q35. Which group typically shows coenocytic hyphae and produces sporangia?

• Ascomycetes
• Basidiomycetes
• Zygomycetes
• Deuteromycetes

Correct Answer: Zygomycetes

Q36. The major component of the polysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans is:

• Chitin
• Cellulose
• Glucuronoxylomannan (a polysaccharide)
• Peptidoglycan

Correct Answer: Glucuronoxylomannan (a polysaccharide)

Q37. Which type of spore is commonly adapted for airborne dispersal and rapid dissemination?

• Sporangiospores
• Zygospores
• Conidia
• Ascospores

Correct Answer: Conidia

Q38. True or false: Septa in many filamentous fungi contain pores that permit passage of organelles and nuclei.

• True
• False
• Only in yeasts
• Only during sporulation

Correct Answer: True

Q39. Fungi that require two genetically different but compatible mating types to complete sexual reproduction are termed:

• Homothallic
• Heterokaryotic
• Heterothallic
• Asexually reproducing

Correct Answer: Heterothallic

Q40. The thick-walled resting spore formed by fusion of gametangia in zygomycetes is called a:

• Zygospore
• Ascospores
• Basidiospore
• Conidium

Correct Answer: Zygospore

Q41. Rhizoids in certain fungi primarily serve to:

• Produce sexual spores
• Anchor the fungus and aid absorption
• Produce conidia
• Generate motile zoospores

Correct Answer: Anchor the fungus and aid absorption

Q42. Aflatoxins, important mycotoxins, are predominantly produced by which genus?

• Penicillium
• Aspergillus
• Rhizopus
• Candida

Correct Answer: Aspergillus

Q43. Which type of ascocarp is completely closed and lacks a natural opening?

• Apothecium
• Perithecium
• Cleistothecium
• Basidiocarp

Correct Answer: Cleistothecium

Q44. The germ tube test for Candida albicans is typically performed by incubating cells in which medium at 37°C?

• Sabouraud dextrose agar
• Human serum
• Blood agar
• Calcofluor white

Correct Answer: Human serum

Q45. Which cellular structure provides rigidity and shape to fungal cells?

• Cell membrane composed of cholesterol
• Cell wall composed of chitin and glucans
• Mitochondrial matrix
• Capsule made of lipids

Correct Answer: Cell wall composed of chitin and glucans

Q46. Which morphological feature most reliably distinguishes true hyphae from pseudohyphae?

• Presence of a capsule
• Parallel walls and continuous cytoplasm in true hyphae
• Ability to produce spores
• Motility of hyphal tips

Correct Answer: Parallel walls and continuous cytoplasm in true hyphae

Q47. Sclerotia are fungal structures formed primarily for:

• Sexual reproduction
• Active nutrient uptake
• Survival during adverse conditions
• Motility in aquatic environments

Correct Answer: Survival during adverse conditions

Q48. Which laboratory preparation is classically used to visualize the polysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans?

• Gram stain
• India ink preparation
• Calcofluor white mount
• Lactophenol cotton blue

Correct Answer: India ink preparation

Q49. Which of the following is NOT a component of fungal cell walls?

• Chitin
• β-Glucans
• Mannoproteins
• Peptidoglycan

Correct Answer: Peptidoglycan

Q50. Which potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation purpose is important in clinical mycology?

• Staining nuclei of fungi
• Dissolving keratin and human cells to clear specimens for fungal visualization
• Fixing fungal cells for culture
• Enhancing sporulation on slides

Correct Answer: Dissolving keratin and human cells to clear specimens for fungal visualization

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

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