Question

Clamp connection is found in
A) Basidiomycetes
B) Ascomycetes
C) Saccharomycetes
D) Hyphomycetes

Answer 1

Hint: Clamp connection is a structure that resembles a hook formed from hyphal cells of some types of fungi. The major function of this connection is to make sure that every cell or segment of hypha is separated by septa.

Complete answer:
Clamp connection is a structure which is found in certain fungi which resembles the structure of a hook. It forms from hyphal cells. This structure ensures each cell gets a differing nucleus. Mating of hyphae with different sexual types will produce the clamp connection. During elongation the terminal hypha will grow into a clamp connection. Before this connection is formed, 2 nuclei are present in the terminal hyphen.

The terminal segment has to be long enough to start the growth of the clamp connection. During this period, the 2 nuclei present in the hypha will undergo mitotic division to produce two daughter nuclei each. As the clamp is growing, it will take one of the nuclei with it by separating it from the sister nuclei. And the rest of the nuclei will move to the other side and get separated to form another hypha and septum is formed in between.

This clamp connection is unique to a certain phylum of the fungi kingdom and it is the phylum basidiomycetes. Though these structures are exclusive to basidiomycetes all of them do not possess these structures. This structure is helpful in creating a genetic variation in sexual reproduction of the fungi. And it acts as a tool of identification in this phylum. Now let’s analyze the options to find the correct answer.

Clamp connections are found in basidiomycetes. Therefore, this is the correct answer. All the other options are irrelevant.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note: Examples of basidiomycetes fungi are mushroom, shelf fungi, jelly fungi, stinkhorns etc. They reproduce sexually with the help of a spore-bearing organ called a basidium which is shaped in the form of a club. After sexual reproduction, it produces 4 nuclei containing spores called bisospores. These basidiospores are found on the top of basidiocarps or generally called fruiting bodies.