Question

Rust and smut diseases are caused by fungi belonging to

• A. Ascomycetes
• B. Deuteromycetes
• C. Basidiomycetes
• D. Fungi imperfecti

Answer 1

The correct option is C Basidiomycetes

Rust and smut are diseases caused by fungi belonging to Basidiomycetes. Rusts at their greatest complexity, produce five different types of spores on two different host plants in two unrelated host families. Such, rusts are heteroecious (requiring two hosts) and macrocyclic (producing all five spores types). Wheat stem rust is an example. On the other hand, the characteristic part of the life-cycle of smuts is the thick-walled, often darkly pigmented, ornate, teliospore that serves to survive harsh conditions such as overwintering and also serves to help disperse the fungus as dry diaspores.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.