Question

A unicellular sac fungus is:
Option A- Claviceps
Option B- Penicillium
Option C- Saccharomyces
Option D- Neurospora
Option E- Aspergillus

Answer 1

Hint: Sac fungus is sac shaped, it belongs to phylum Ascomycota from the kingdom Fungi. Members of this phylum are known as sac fungi or ascomycetes, it is the largest phylum of fungi.

Complete answer: Sac fungus also known as Ascomycetes produce spore in a distinctive manner of microscopic microsporangium called as ascus. Sac fungi are heterotrophic or can be pathogens also. These can eat dead or decaying matter and can also give their host some kind of diseases. Examples of sac fungi are – yeasts, morels, truffles, penicillium and baker’s yeast.

Option A- Claviceps: It is an ergot fungus. It grows on rye, cereals and some other plants. It belongs to the family Clavicipitaceae. It can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals when they consume grains or seeds contaminated with this fungus.

Option B- Penicillium: It belongs to genus of ascomycetous fungi. It is very important naturally found and used in food and drug production. Penicillin antibiotic is made from this fungus that kills certain kinds of bacteria in our body that cause harm to us. It is example of multicellular sac fungus.

Option C- Saccharomyces: It belongs to the genus ascomycetous that consist of many species of yeast. It is of great importance in food production. It is known as Baker’s yeast. It is a unicellular sac fungus.

Option D- Neurospora: It is a genus of Ascomycete fungi meaning nerve spore. It is actively used in research.

Option E- Aspergillus: It is a genus consisting of mould species. It causes Aspergillosis which is a disease affecting lungs. It can serious infection with pneumonia

So our correct answer is Option C Saccharomyces.

Note: Saccharomyces and Penicillium both belong to the same genus but former is unicellular and Penicillium is multicellular. So because of this reason as asked in the question our answer should be unicellular sac fungi that is saccharomyces.