Question

In which group of fungi, the zoospores possess two oppositely directed flagella, one whiplash and another tinsel type?

• A. Ascomycetes
• B. Zygomycetes
• C. Oomycetes
• D. Deuteromycetes

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Oomycetes

In fungi, the flagella may be anterior, posterior or laterally attached to a groove in the body. There are two types of flagella in zoospores. They are whiplash and tinsel types. The whiplash flagellum has a long rigid base composed of all the eleven fibrils and a short flexible end formed of the two central fibrils only. The tinsel flagellum has a rachis, which is covered on all sides along its centre length with short fibrils. In uniflagellate zoospores, the flagellum may be anterior or posterior. But in biflagellate zoospores, one is whiplash and the other is tinsel type and one points forward and the other backward. In oomycetes, the motile cells with two oppositely directed flagella present. The anterior is of tinsel type and the posterior is of whiplash.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.