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		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=3032</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=3032"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:58:02Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of [[wikipedia:angiosperms|angiosperms]], or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a [[wikipedia:cotyledon|cotyledon]]. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. [[wikipedia:Adventitious roots|adventitious roots]] sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from [[dicots]] in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. [[wikipedia:Grasses|Grasses]], in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the [[wikipedia:sedge|sedge]] family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=3031</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=3031"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:56:32Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of [[wikipedia:angiosperms|angiosperms]], or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a [[wikipedia:cotyledon|cotyledon]]. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. [[wikipedia:Adventitious roots|adventitious roots]] sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. [[wikipedia:Grasses|Grasses]], in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the [[wikipedia:sedge|sedge]] family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3030</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3030"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:55:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|thumb|The archetypal tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses [[wikipedia:moss|moss]] , [[lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by [[wikipedia:anhydrobiosis|anhydrobiosis]], [[wikipedia:osmobiosis|osmobiosis]], [[wikipedia:anoxybiosis|anoxybiosis]], [[wikipedia:cryobiosis|cryobiosis]] and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|thumb|left|400px| A labeled diagram of the body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades fall under the phyla of [[wikipedia:ecdysozoans|ecdysozoans]] as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|thumb|450 px|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Tardigrade_sex.JPG ‎|left|thumb|200px| Sexual reproduction in tardigrades [12].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are [[wikipedia:parthenogenic|parthenogenic]], meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. [[wikipedia:Hermaphroditism|hermaphroditism]] was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, [[wikipedia:mosses|mosses]], [[wikipedia:leaf litter|leaf litter]], [[wikipedia:soils|soils]] and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b0/29/9e/b0299e1afef294beef55d120b734190d.jpg&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3029</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3029"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:45:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|thumb|The archetypal tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses [[wikipedia:moss|moss]] , [[wikipedia:lichen|lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by [[wikipedia:anhydrobiosis|anhydrobiosis]], [[wikipedia:osmobiosis|osmobiosis]], [[wikipedia:anoxybiosis|anoxybiosis]], [[wikipedia:cryobiosis|cryobiosis]] and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|thumb|left|400px| A labeled diagram of the body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades fall under the phyla of [[wikipedia:ecdysozoans|ecdysozoans]] as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|thumb|450 px|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Tardigrade_sex.JPG ‎|left|thumb|200px| Sexual reproduction in tardigrades [12].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are [[wikipedia:parthenogenic|parthenogenic]], meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. [[wikipedia:Hermaphroditism|hermaphroditism]] was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, [[wikipedia:mosses|mosses]], [[wikipedia:leaf litter|leaf litter]], [[wikipedia:soils|soils]] and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b0/29/9e/b0299e1afef294beef55d120b734190d.jpg&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3028</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3028"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:45:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|thumb|The archetypal tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses [[wikipedia:moss|moss]] , [[wikipedia:lichen|lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by [[wikipedia:anhydrobiosis|anhydrobiosis]], [[wikipedia:osmobiosis|osmobiosis]], [[wikipedia:anoxybiosis|anoxybiosis]], [[wikipedia:cryobiosis|cryobiosis]] and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|thumb|left|400px| A labeled diagram of the body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades fall under the phyla of [[wikipedia:ecdysozoans|ecdysozoans]] as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|thumb|450 px|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Tardigrade_sex.JPG ‎|left|thumb|200px| Sexual reproduction in tardigrades [12].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are [[wikipedia:parthenogenic|parthenogenic]], meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. [[wikipedia:Hermaphroditism|hermaphroditism]] was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, [[wikipedia:mosses|mosses]], [[wikipedia:leaf litter|leaf litter]], [[wikipedia:soils|soils]] and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Tardigrade_sex.JPG&amp;diff=3027</id>
		<title>File:Tardigrade sex.JPG</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Tardigrade_sex.JPG&amp;diff=3027"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:42:40Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3026</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=3026"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:38:15Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|thumb|The archetypal tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses [[wikipedia:moss|moss]] , [[wikipedia:lichen|lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by [[wikipedia:anhydrobiosis|anhydrobiosis]], [[wikipedia:osmobiosis|osmobiosis]], [[wikipedia:anoxybiosis|anoxybiosis]], [[wikipedia:cryobiosis|cryobiosis]] and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|thumb|left|400px| A labeled diagram of the body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades fall under the phyla of [[wikipedia:ecdysozoans|ecdysozoans]] as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|thumb|450 px|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are [[wikipedia:parthenogenic|parthenogenic]], meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. [[wikipedia:Hermaphroditism|hermaphroditism]] was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, [[wikipedia:mosses|mosses]], [[wikipedia:leaf litter|leaf litter]], [[wikipedia:soils|soils]] and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3025</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3025"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:35:21Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|thumb|right|A model example of the phylum Basidiomycota: &#039;&#039;Amanita muscaria&#039;&#039; [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,000 species. The Basidiomycota are also referred to as &amp;quot;Basidiomycetes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;club fungi&amp;quot;. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced [8]. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|thumb|200px|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|thumb|200px|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|thumb|200px|This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|thumb|200px|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Stolze-Rybczynski, J. L., Cui, Y., Stevens, M. H. H., Davis, D. J., Fischer, M. W. F., &amp;amp; Money, N. P. (2009). Adaptation of the spore discharge mechanism in the Basidiomycota. PLoS ONE, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004163&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3024</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3024"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:33:02Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|thumb|right|A model example of the phylum Basidiomycota: &#039;&#039;Amanita muscaria&#039;&#039; [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,000 species. The Basidiomycota are also referred to as &amp;quot;Basidiomycetes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;club fungi&amp;quot;. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced [8]. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|thumb|200px|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|frame|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Stolze-Rybczynski, J. L., Cui, Y., Stevens, M. H. H., Davis, D. J., Fischer, M. W. F., &amp;amp; Money, N. P. (2009). Adaptation of the spore discharge mechanism in the Basidiomycota. PLoS ONE, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004163&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3023</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3023"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:32:29Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|thumb|right|A model example of the phylum Basidiomycota: &#039;&#039;Amanita muscaria&#039;&#039; [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,000 species. The Basidiomycota are also referred to as &amp;quot;Basidiomycetes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;club fungi&amp;quot;. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced [8]. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|frame|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Stolze-Rybczynski, J. L., Cui, Y., Stevens, M. H. H., Davis, D. J., Fischer, M. W. F., &amp;amp; Money, N. P. (2009). Adaptation of the spore discharge mechanism in the Basidiomycota. PLoS ONE, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004163&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3022</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3022"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:27:02Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A model example of the phylum Basidiomycota: &#039;&#039;Amanita muscaria&#039;&#039; [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,000 species. The Basidiomycota are also referred to as &amp;quot;Basidiomycetes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;club fungi&amp;quot;. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced [8]. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|frame|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Stolze-Rybczynski, J. L., Cui, Y., Stevens, M. H. H., Davis, D. J., Fischer, M. W. F., &amp;amp; Money, N. P. (2009). Adaptation of the spore discharge mechanism in the Basidiomycota. PLoS ONE, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004163&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3021</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3021"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:24:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A model example of the phylum Basidiomycota: &#039;&#039;Amanita muscaria&#039;&#039; [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,000 species. This group is also referred to as &amp;quot;Basidiomycetes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;club fungi&amp;quot;. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|frame|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3020</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3020"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:22:58Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A model example of the phylum Basidiomycota: &#039;&#039;Amanita muscaria&#039;&#039; [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,000 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|frame|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3019</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=3019"/>
		<updated>2018-05-11T07:22:27Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A model example of the phylum Basidiomycota: &#039;&#039;Amanita muscaria&#039;&#039; [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|frame|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2763</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2763"/>
		<updated>2018-05-10T00:00:06Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of [[wikipedia:angiosperms|angiosperms]], or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a [[wikipedia:cotyledon|cotyledon]]. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. [[wikipedia:Adventitious roots|adventitious roots]] sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. [[wikipedia:Grasses|Grasses]], in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the [[wikipedia:sedge|sedge]] family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2762</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2762"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T23:58:37Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of [[wikipedia:angiosperms|angiosperms]], or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a [[wikipedia:cotyledon|cotyledon]]. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. [[wikipedia:Adventitious roots|adventitious roots]] sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. [[wikipedia:Grasses|Grasses]], in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the sedge family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2761</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2761"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T23:58:08Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of [[wikipedia:angiosperms|angiosperms]], or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a [[wikipedia:cotyledon|cotyledon]]. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. [[wikipedia:Adventitious roots|adventitious roots]] sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. [[wikipedia:Grasses|grasses]], in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the sedge family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2760</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2760"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T23:57:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of [[wikipedia:angiosperms|angiosperms]], or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a [[wikipedia:cotyledon|cotyledon]]. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. [[wikipedia:Adventitious roots|adventitious roots]] sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. Grasses, in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the sedge family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2752</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2752"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:47:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|frame|[9]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses [[wikipedia:moss|moss]] , [[wikipedia:lichen|lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by [[wikipedia:anhydrobiosis|anhydrobiosis]], [[wikipedia:osmobiosis|osmobiosis]], [[wikipedia:anoxybiosis|anoxybiosis]], [[wikipedia:cryobiosis|cryobiosis]] and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|frame|left| The body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades fall under the phyla of [[wikipedia:ecdysozoans|ecdysozoans]] as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|frame|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are [[wikipedia:parthenogenic|parthenogenic]], meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. [[wikipedia:Hermaphroditism|hermaphroditism]] was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, [[wikipedia:mosses|mosses]], [[wikipedia:leaf litter|leaf litter]], [[wikipedia:soils|soils]] and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2751</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2751"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:47:32Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|frame|[9]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses [[wikipedia:moss|moss]] , [[wikipedia:lichen|lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by [[wikipedia:anhydrobiosis|anhydrobiosis]], [[wikipedia:osmobiosis|osmobiosis]], [[wikipedia:anoxybiosis|anoxybiosis]], [[wikipedia:cryobiosis|cryobiosis]] and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|frame|left| The body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades fall under the phyla of [[wikipedia:ecdysozoans|ecdysozoans]] as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|frame|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are [[wikipedia:parthenogenic|parthenogenic]], meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. [[wikipedia:Hermaphroditism|hermaphroditism]] was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, [[wikipedia:mosses|mossess]], [[wikipedia:leaf litter|leaf litter]], [[wikipedia:soils|soils]] and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2750</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2750"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:43:52Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: /* Uses */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Fairy_ring.JPG|below|frame|A fairy ring formed by Basidiomycota aiding in nitrogen uptake for surrounding grasses.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Fairy_ring.JPG&amp;diff=2748</id>
		<title>File:Fairy ring.JPG</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Fairy_ring.JPG&amp;diff=2748"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:42:57Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2747</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2747"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:41:54Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. A popular trailmark of Basidiomycota are their ability to form fairy rings. Fairy rings are a cicrle of Basidiomycota arranged around dead leaves and roots in grasslands. In many folklore stories, these fairy rings have been present, greatly influencing art and literature. The rings expand every year and release nitrogen to the soil which produces very lush grass. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains for viewing cytoskeletons in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2746</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2746"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:36:28Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|right|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2745</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2745"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:35:32Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic [[wikipedia:hyphae|hyphae]]. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2744</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2744"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:35:06Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a [[wikipedia:dikaryon|dikaryon]]. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as [[wikipedia:karyogamy|karyogamy]], and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2743</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2743"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:33:47Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many [[wikipedia:insects|insects]] due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, [[wikipedia:liverworts|liverworts]], and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2742</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2742"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:30:17Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: Basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Basidiomycot.JPG&amp;diff=2741</id>
		<title>File:Basidiomycot.JPG</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Basidiomycot.JPG&amp;diff=2741"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:29:59Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: Arbartle uploaded a new version of File:Basidiomycot.JPG&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG&amp;diff=2740</id>
		<title>File:Basidiomycota life cycle.JPG</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG&amp;diff=2740"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:28:52Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: Arbartle uploaded a new version of File:Basidiomycota life cycle.JPG&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2739</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2739"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:22:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|upright|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. The basidiospores reside at the tip of a horn known as a sterigma and they are forced out, known as ballistospore discharge, upon maturity. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ballistospore being ejected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLM1ouhW1Y&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|{100}px|x{200}px| Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2737</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2737"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:16:32Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
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Monocots make up one of the largest groups of [[wikipedia:angiosperms|angiosperms]], or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a [[wikipedia:cotyledon|cotyledon]]. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
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=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
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The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. Adventitious roots sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
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=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
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A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
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=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
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Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
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=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
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Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. Grasses, in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the sedge family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
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=References=&lt;br /&gt;
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[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
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[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
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[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
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[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
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[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
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[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
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[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
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[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
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[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
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[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
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[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
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[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
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[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
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[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
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Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
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[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
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[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
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[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2735</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2735"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T15:08:51Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: /* Uses */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
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=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|{100}px|x{200}px| Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
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=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] [6]. In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6].&lt;br /&gt;
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=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
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[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
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[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
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[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
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[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
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[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2711</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2711"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:33:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|frame|[9]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
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Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses [[wikipedia:moss|moss]] , [[wikipedia:lichen|lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by anhydrobiosis, osmobiosis, anoxybiosis, cryobiosis and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
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=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|frame|left| The body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
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Tardigrades fall under the phyla of ecdysozoans as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|frame|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
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=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
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Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
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=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
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Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are parthenogenic, meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. Hermaphroditism was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, mosses, leaf litter, soils and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
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=References=&lt;br /&gt;
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[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
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[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
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[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
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[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
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[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
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[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
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[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
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[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
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[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
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[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2710</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2710"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:32:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|{100}px|x{200}px| Depicted above is a diagram of the typical life cycle of Basidiomycota [3].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2707</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2707"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:31:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2706</id>
		<title>Tardigrades</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Tardigrades&amp;diff=2706"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:30:58Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file:Tardigrade.JPG|right|frame|[9]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Tardigrades=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates who typically live in mosses, [[wikipedia:lichen|lichen]], leaf litter, soils, and aquatic environments. Their name is loosely translated to “slow walker” as they walk slowly on small stubbly legs often attaching themselves to debris [9]. The body lengths of tardigrades are generally less than 1 mm and they lack a dorsal heart, circulatory system, and respiratory system [11]. Despite their differences in morphology from sister taxa, tardigrades have the ability to thrive in a diversity of habitats. Their widespread presence is partially attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. In this state, metabolic activities stop and tardigrades enter a lifeless form until conditions are more favorable. This cryptobiotic state can be induced by anhydrobiosis, osmobiosis, anoxybiosis, cryobiosis and more [5]. The ability of tardigrades to withstand extreme environments including the vacuum of a space has given them much attention in research. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Morphology=&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Tardigrade_boy.JPG|frame|left| The body parts of a tardigrade [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades fall under the phyla of ecdysozoans as they are encased in a cuticle which they shed as they grow [9]. They have five body sections including their head, and each body section is fitted with two claws totaling eight. They also have a complete digestive system with a sucking pharynx which leads to an esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Tardigrades have a dorsal brain with a ventral nervous system which supports a variety of complex sensory functions including light-sensitive eyes [8]. Additionally, tardigrades are equipped with a hemocoel, or a body cavity, that touches every cell eliminating the need for circulatory and respiratory systems and directly allowing for nutrition and gas exchange. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Tardigrade_states.JPG|right|frame|sub|Depicted above are the various forms of cryptobiosis that tardigrades endure [9].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physiology=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades are one of the few species to be found on all continents withstanding many sorts of extreme environmental conditions. Survivorship in tardigrades is attributed to their ability to enter a cryptobiotic state. While many tardigrades possess the ability to enter this lifeless state, those that dwell in relatively stable marine and aquatic ecosystems have not evolved these characteristics [9]. Research has shown that survival adaptations are primarily a response to changing conditions in terrestrial environments. Terrestrial dwelling tardigrades have three states of being known as active, anoxybiosis and cryptobiosis. An active state is a normal way of life in which tardigrades carry out their typical routines. In an anoxybiotic state, oxygen levels are low and osmoregulatory controls begin to fail which causes tardigrades to puff up and float around. Finally, a cryptobiotic stage is an ametabolic state in which a tardigrade becomes dormant until conditions are more favorable. This state can be induced by desiccation (anhydrobiosis) , freezing (cryobiosis), exposure to extreme salinity (osmobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and other extreme conditions [5]. Anhydrobiosis is common for tardigrades and they can return to their active state in a few minutes to hours after they are rehydrated by precipitation. In cryobiois, if a tardigrade is exposed to temperatures below the freezing point of its cytoplasm, metabolism is suspended. The release of cryoprotectants alter the freeing temperature of tissues allowing for a slower transition into cryobiosis [10]. During exposure to extreme salinities, tardigrades may curl up into a dry husk known as a “tun”. Recent research has proven that tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of -272.8 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which atoms come to a complete standstill. Tardigrades have even been shown to survive the vacuum of space and serve as a model for research into surviving space conditions [1,6,7].&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproduction=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Tardigrades can reproduce by means of various methods. Some tardigrades are parthenogenic, meaning they are able to produce eggs without mating, others are hermaphroditic, meaning that they possess the ability to self-fertilize, and some are capable of sexual reproduction. Parthenogenic tardigrades produce offspring which develop from gametes. Parthenogenesis can operate on a haploid or a diploid cell and allow for colonization of a new territory by a single individual [3]. Hermaphroditism was once thought to be the least common form of reproduction in tardigrades but has now  been found in four of five of the families of eutardigrades [2]. Self-fertilization appears in species in freshwater, mosses, leaf litter, soils and occasionally in marine species [3,4]. During sexual reproduction, a female will lay eggs during her molting period. These eggs are laid inside the outer layer of a tardigrade’s cuticle. A male will approach the female from behind and ejaculate into the female’s outer layer of skin and fertilization takes place externally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Arakawa, K., &amp;amp; Blaxter, M. (2018). Tardigrades in space. Biologist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bertolani, R. (1979). Hermaphroditism in tardigrades. International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction, 1(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/01651269.1979.10553300&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Bertolani, R. (2001). Evolution of the Reproductive Mechanisms in Tardigrades –A Review. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240(August 2000), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00032&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Bingemer, J., Hohberg, K., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2016). First detailed observations on tardigrade mating behaviour and some aspects of the life history ofIsohypsibius dastychiPilato, Bertolani &amp;amp; Binda 1982 (Tardigrada, Isohypsibiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,178(4), 856-862. doi:10.1111/zoj.12435&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Hengherr, S., Worland, M. R., Reuner, A., Brummer, F., &amp;amp; Schill, R. O. (2009). Freeze tolerance, supercooling points and ice formation: comparative studies on the subzero temperature survival of limno-terrestrial tardigrades. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212(6), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.025973&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Jönsson, K. I. (2007). Tardigrades as a Potential Model Organism in Space Research. Astrobiology, 7(5), 757–766. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2006.0088&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Jönsson, K. I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R. O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., &amp;amp; Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Miller, W. R. (2004). Tardigrades. Bears of the Canopy. In Forest Canopies: Second Edition (pp. 251–258). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012457553-0/50018-6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Miller, W. R. (2011). Tardigrades. American Scientist, 99(5), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1511/2011.92.384&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Møbjerg, N., Halberg, K. A., Jørgensen, A., Persson, D., Bjørn, M., Ramløv, H., &amp;amp; Kristensen, R. M. (2011). Survival in extreme environments - on the current knowledge of adaptations in tardigrades. Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02252.x&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2001). Tardigrades -- Are They Really Miniaturized Dwarfs? Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 240(3–4), 549–555. https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00066&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2702</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2702"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:28:54Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores and provideing [[wikipedia:ecosystem services|ecosystem services]]. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2701</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2701"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:28:01Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|left|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2700</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2700"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:27:39Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|frame|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|frame| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2698</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2698"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:27:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|border|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|border| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2697</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2697"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:26:45Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame|A classic example of the phylum Basidiomycota [2].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|border|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota.[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|border| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2694</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2694"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:26:06Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, [[wikipedia:ectomycorrizae|ectomycorrizae]] [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|border|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota.[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|border| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2691</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2691"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:24:47Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, ectomycorrhizae [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file:Basidiocarps.JPG|left|border|This picture shows the various forms of basidiocarps, a defining feature of Basidiomycota.[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|border| This photo shows the phylogenetic relationships between classes of Basidiomycota [6].]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Basidiocarps.JPG&amp;diff=2687</id>
		<title>File:Basidiocarps.JPG</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=File:Basidiocarps.JPG&amp;diff=2687"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:21:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2685</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2685"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:21:24Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, ectomycorrhizae [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|border]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2684</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2684"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:21:09Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and [[wikipedia:Ascomycota|Ascomycota]] together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, ectomycorrhizae [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|border]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle and [[wikipedia:nutrient cycle|nutrient cycle]] (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2667</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2667"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:08:50Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of angiosperms, or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a cotyledon. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. Adventitious roots sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. Grasses, in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia:animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the sedge family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2663</id>
		<title>Monocots</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Monocots&amp;diff=2663"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T13:07:40Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;=Monocots=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:orchid.jpg|left|200px|[16]|]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots make up one of the largest groups of angiosperms, or flowering plants, comprising a total of twenty-five percent of all angiosperms [4]. The term monocot, stems from most membering plants having one seed leaf, known as a cotyledon. There are nearly 60,000 different species of monocots and together they form a monophyletic group [2]. Famous monocot families include Orchidaceae (orchids), the largest known plant family, Iridaceae (irises), Arecaceae (palms) and more [13]. Monocots are of great economic and cultural importance around the world [13].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monodistems.jpg|border|frame|The scattered vascular structure of a monocot pattern (left) compared to the ring-shaped vascular structure of eudicots (right) [17].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Physical Structure=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The identifying feature of a monocot is a trimerious-pentacyclic flower design. This design consists of six tepals in two whorls, six stamens in two whorls, and three carpels. These features are virtually absent from earlier angiosperms [8]. Floral parts in monocots typically occur in threes [9]. Monocots are also known to have leaves with parallel venation, the veins are arranged parallel to one another and do not join other veins. Monocotyledons differ from the other main group of angiosperms, [[wikipedia:eudicots|eudicots]], in their vascular structure. Monocots have primary vascular bundles containing both [[wikipedia:phloem|phloem]] and [[wikipedia:xylem|xylem]] in a scattered arrangement, known as an atactostele. There is no differentiation between cortical and stellar regions in monocots. This contrasts eudicots, which have a ring like vascular bundle shape with a distinct phloem and xylem, differentiated by the cortex and stele [15]. Root systems in monocots are characterized by a radical, which aborts at an early stage. Since the first root that emerges dies, a central taproot forms and roots grow adventitiously [3]. Adventitious roots sprout from shoot tissues near the base of the monocot. Monocots also lack a cambium, which allows for growth in diameter with height [3]. Due to the lack of cambium, there is a limit on how tall shoots can grow and many monocots tend to be herbaceous. However, some monocots are able to reach great height, length and mass such as agaves, palms, and bamboos. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monocot_seed.png|frame|border|left|Seed structure in monocots shown in a front view (left) and a longitudinal cross section (right) [18].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Reproductive Structures=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A monocot seed is comprised of the plant embryo, cotyledon and endosperm. The embryo will consume the endosperm and the cotyledon will transfer the stored energy to the embryo [12]. As the embryo develops it sends a primary root out of the seed coating and into the soil. A primary leaf is then pushed up through the seed coating to the surface. This process differs from dicots in that a dicot’s primary roots will grow towards the soil surface initially. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:monotree.PNG|frame|border|Monophyletic monocot tree based on 18s rDNA data [11].]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=DNA=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Based on recent data, monocots have been identified to be a monophyletic group that diverged from other angiosperms over a million years BP, during the Cretaceous era [2]. Advances in molecular systematics have enabled eight major groups of monocot to be identified. Moving from the most basal, these groups include Acorus, Alismatales, and a polytomy of six remaining clades known as Japonolirion, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Liliales, Asparagales, and a commelinoid clade with subclades, Arecaceae, Zinigiberales, and Poales [5]. While monocots were originally named due to having a single cotyledon, 18s rDNA evidence has shown that a stronger uniting factor among monocots is pollen grain type. Through the use of molecular systematics, it has been found that taxa with uniaperturate pollen form a grade at the base of the angiosperm tree [11]. Nearly all monocots have been identified to have uniaperturate pollen grains which distinguishes them from a large eudicot clade with taxa having primarily triaperturate pollen [10].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Monocots are of great cultural and economic importance. Grasses, in particular, are monocots which are of vital importance to both humans and [[wikipedia|animals|animals]] (Poaceae) [4]. Monocots are ubiquitous in the diet of humans. Grains such as rice, wheat, and barley are all monocots [1]. Fruits such as plantains, coconuts, pineapples, and dates fall under the monocot clade. In addition to the monocot’s dietary use, some monocots are used medicinally. The genus Dioscorea is responsible for producing diosgenin, a steroid-like compound that aids in making progesterone for many contraceptives. Indigenous communities around the world rely on monocots for medicinal purposes [6,7,14]. Other monocots used by humans include the sedge family (Cyperaceae), palms, lilies, bromeliads, skunk cabbage, and philodendron [9].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Anderson CL, Janssen T. 2009. Monocots. In: Hedges SB, Kumar S, eds. Timetree of life. New York: Oxford University Press, 203–212.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2] Bremer, K. (2000). Early Cretaceous Lineages of Monocot Flowering Plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 97(9), 4707–4711. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080421597&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[3] Chase, M. W. (2004). Monocot relationships: An overview. American Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.91.10.1645&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[4] Fay, M. F. (2013). Monocots. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12052&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[5] Furness, C. A., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2004). Pollen aperture evolution - A crucial factor for eudicot success? Trends in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.01.001&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[6] Mahomoodally, M. F. (2013). Traditional medicines in Africa: An appraisal of ten potent African medicinal plants. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/617459&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[7] Maroyi, A. (2013). Traditional use of medicinal plants in south-central Zimbabwe: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[8] Remizowa, M. V., Sokoloff, D. D., &amp;amp; Rudall, P. J. (2010). Evolutionary History of the Monocot Flower 1. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 97(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.3417/2009142&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[9] Robinson, R. (2016). Monocots. In M. S. Hill (Ed.), Biology (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 104-106). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved from 128.205.114.91 http://link.galegroup.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/apps/doc/CX3629800285/SCIC?u=sunybuff_main&amp;amp;xid=028f8864&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[10] Soltis, D. E., Bell, C. D., Kim, S., &amp;amp; Soltis, P. S. (2008). Origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1438.005&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[11] Soltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., Chase, M. W., Mort, M. E., Albach, D. C., Zanis, M., … Farris, J. S. (2000). Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from 18S rDNA, rbcL, and atpB sequences. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 133(4), 381–461. https://doi.org/10.1006/bojl.2000.0380&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[12] Sreenivasulu, N., &amp;amp; Wobus, U. (2013). Seed-Development Programs: A Systems Biology–Based Comparison Between Dicots and Monocots. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 64(1), 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120215&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[13] Tang, C. Q., Orme, C. D. L., Bunnefeld, L., Jones, F. A., Powell, S., Chase, M. W., … Savolainen, V. (2017). Global monocot diversification: geography explains variation in species richness better than environment or biology. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 183(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12497&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[14] Uprety, Y., Asselin, H., Dhakal, A., &amp;amp; Julien, N. (2012). Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: Review and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-8-7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[15] Zimmermann, M. H., &amp;amp; Tomlinson, P. B. (1972). The Vascular System of Monocotyledonous Stems. Botanical Gazette, 133(2), 141-155. doi:10.1086/336628 http://www.jstor.org/stable/2473813 .&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Photo References:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[16] Foster, N. (2016, July). How To Care For Your Beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchid. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/how-to-care-for-your-beautiful-phalaenopsis-orchid/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[17] Plant Structure bi. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2018, from http://www.biologyjunction.com/plant_structure_bi1.htm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[18] Tiftickjian, J. (n.d.). Corn Seed Structure. Retrieved from http://www.doctortee.com/cgi/image-lookup.cgi?corn-seed&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2499</id>
		<title>Basidiomycota</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php?title=Basidiomycota&amp;diff=2499"/>
		<updated>2018-05-09T05:31:11Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Arbartle: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[file: basidiomycot.JPG|right|frame]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Basidiomycota=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota is a monophyletic group of fungi encompassing more than 31,00 species. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota together make up the sub-kingdom Dikarya which means higher fungi. The defining feature of Basidiomycota is their club-shaped structure known as the basidium which is where basidiospores are produced [7]. The Basidiomycota are of great ecological importance particularly in forest ecosystems due to their ability to decompose and recycle nutrients, especially lignin [7]. Additionally, Basidiomycota are a food source for many insects due to their rich carbohydrate and protein content. To plants, many basidiomycetes have been found to be parasitic and agents of disease [5]. Despite many basidiomycetes forming parasitic relationships with plants some form mutualistic relationships, most notably, ectomycorrhizae [4]. Other mutualistic symbioses include lichens, liverworts, and fungus farming by ants and termites. Some of the most well-known basidiomycetes include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. &lt;br /&gt;
=Characteristics&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota vary greatly in morphological features depending on the species. Basidiomycota can be unicellular or multicellular, sexual or asexual, terrestrial or aquatic. However, something most basidomycota share is the production of basidia or the cells on which sexual spores are produced. Basidiomycota are also all dikaryons, meaning that each cell in the thallus contains two haploid nuclei [6]. Another distinguishing feature of Basidiomycota are their clamp connections or hyphal outgrwoths that form from the division of cells in dikaryotic hyphae. In this process, one nuclei divide in the main axis of hypha, while the other divides into the clamp. &lt;br /&gt;
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=Life Cycle=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota have a distinguished life cycle from other fungi. Basidiospores typically have a single haploid nucleus. When basidiospores germinate they produce hyphae with a single nucleus, known as a monokaryon. During growth, two monokaryons of different mating types will fuse either by hyphal fusion or with a small spore known as an oidium. The process of fusion in Basidiomycota is known as plasmogamy. Finally, the nuclei divide and the daughter nuclei pair has two nuclei, one of each mating type. It is at this point that a fungus is referred to as a dikaryon. Basidiomycota will grow as a dikaryon until an environmental cue causes them to produce fruitbodies. It is then that the two haploid nuclei fuse, known as karyogamy, and form a diploid nucleus. After meiosis there are four haploid nuclei which migrate into the basidiospores where the life cycle begins again [3]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidiomycota_life_cycle.JPG|below|frame|{100}px|x{200}px|[3]]]&lt;br /&gt;
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=Taxonomy=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota are recognized as a monophyletic phylum comprised of five classes. These classes include Agaricomycotina, Ustilaginomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, Entorrhizomycetes, Wallemiomycetes. Agaricomycotina consists of jelly fungi, yeasts and mushrooms while Ustilaginomycotina consist of smut fungi, and Puccinomycotina include rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like fungi. The phylogenetic position of both Entorrhizomycetes and Wallemiomycetes are still being debated [2]. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[file: Phylogenetic_tree_of_basidiomycota.JPG|below|border]]&lt;br /&gt;
=Uses=&lt;br /&gt;
Basidiomycota greatly effect ecosystem functioning primarily through being detritivores. Basidiomycota absorb nutrients by feeding on decaying matter and thus, play a significant role in the carbon cycle (Swan et al., 2007). In addition to ecosystem servicing, Basidiomycota are eaten both through cultivation and in the wild as mushrooms. Some Basidiomycota produce deadly toxins, one familiar to humans is phalloidin, used for fluorescent stains in many biology labs [1]. Furthermore, Basidiomycota members of the genus Psilocybe are known to cause hallucinogenic effects and have been traditionally used in many Central American indigenous cultures [6]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[file: Basidomybros.JPG|frame|border|[6]]]&lt;br /&gt;
=References=&lt;br /&gt;
[1] Benjamin, D.R. 1995. Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.&lt;br /&gt;
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[2] Brondz, I. (2014). Fungi: Classification of the Basidiomycota. In Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology: Second Edition (pp. 20–29). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384730-0.00139-7&lt;br /&gt;
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[3] Deacon, J. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/basidio.htm&lt;br /&gt;
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[4] Hood, I. a. (2006). The mycology of the Basidiomycetes. Heart Rot and Root Rot in Tropical Acacia Plantations. Workshop in Yogyakarta Indonesia Feb. 2006. ACIAR Proceedings No. 124 Canberra., (124), 7–9.&lt;br /&gt;
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[5] Kirk, P. M., Cannon, P. F., Minter, D. W., &amp;amp; Staplers, J. A. (2008). Basidiomycota. In Dictionary of the Fungi (pp. 78–82).&lt;br /&gt;
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[6] Swann, Eric and David S. Hibbett. 2007. Basidiomycota. The Club Fungi. Version 20 April 2007.http://tolweb.org/Basidiomycota/20520/2007.04.20 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/&lt;br /&gt;
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[7] Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., Taylor, E. L., Taylor, T. N., Krings, M., &amp;amp; Taylor, E. L. (2015). 9 – Basidiomycota. In Fossil Fungi (pp. 173–199). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387731-4.00009-8&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Arbartle</name></author>
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