Which filamentous structure forms the body of a fungus when many filaments grow together?

• A. Hyphae
• B. Mycelium
• C. Spore
• D. Mushroom Structure

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that fungi grow as networks of threadlike filaments called hyphae. When many hyphae come together and intertwine, they form a large, branching mass known as the mycelium, which is the vegetative body responsible for absorbing nutrients from the environment. Hyphae are the individual filaments themselves, so on their own they don’t constitute the whole body. Spore is the reproductive unit that can give rise to new hyphae, and a mushroom structure is a fruiting body some fungi produce for dispersing spores, not the main body formed by dense hyphal growth. Therefore, the body formed by a many-f hyphae network is the mycelium.