Smuts and Their Dependence on Host Plants

Do smuts always require a host to grow?

a. True

b. False

Answer:

Smuts are obligate parasites that cannot complete their lifecycle without a host plant, making the statement that smuts always require a host to grow true.

The statement that smuts always require a host to grow is true. Smuts are a group of fungi, specifically classified within the Basidiomycetes, that have an obligate parasitic relationship with their host plants. This parasitic relationship means that smuts cannot complete their life cycle without a host organism. The smuts often cause galls to form on the plants they infect, consisting of a mix of infected plant cells, uninfected plant cells, and fungal hyphae.

The lifecycle of smuts involves producing teliospores, which after germination, lead to the formation of basidiospores following meiosis. Like smuts, other pathogens such as rusts and certain bacteria are also dependent on hosts for completing their life cycles. However, while some rusts may require two different host plants for different stages of their lifecycle, smuts typically persist within a single host species, exhibiting their dependency on host organisms for growth and reproduction.