Fungus

Chapter 19

Characteristics1. Fungi are eukaryotic heterotrophs

2. Along with bacteria they are major decomposers

3. Many are saprophytes which means they live off dead material.

4. Most reproduce both sexually and asexually.

5. Fungi are found almost everywhere on earth.

6. Their cells have cell walls made of chitin.

1. Zygomycota – (common molds) bread, cheese molds & fruit molds

Bread mold

Cheese mold

Fruit mold

2. Ascomycota (sac fungi) morels, truffles and yeasts.

Truffles

Morels•Gourmet food•Found in woodlands•$20 per pound

Sac fungus

3. Basidiomycota (club fungi) mushroom, shelf fungi, and puffballs.

mushrooms shelf fungus puffballs

Club fungus

The mushroom is called the fruiting body of the fungus because its purpose is to

produce reproductive spores.

Turkey Tail Fungus

Mushroom Spore Print

4. Deuteromycota (imperfect fungi) penicillium, ringworm, and athletes foot

penicilium

Ringworm

Athletes footImperfect fungus

Toenail fungus

•35 million infected in US•Can spread from person to person•Also called “onychomycosis”

Lichen

• Lichen: A partnership between a fungus and an algae.• The algae provides food for the fungus.• The fungus provides a place for the algae to live.

LichenThere are three forms of lichens:

1. Crustose: paint-like crusts that are tightly attached to trees and rocks

2. Foliose: leaf-like

3. Fruticose: moss-like, branching, the most three dimensional of all the lichens

Parts of a Mushroom• Fruiting body: grows above ground

1. Stalk (Stipe): main support of mushroom

2. Ring (annulus): skirt of tissue circling stalk

3. Cap: top of mushroom

4. Scales: flakey surface of the cap

5. Gills: underside of cap (produce spores)

6. Spores: reproductive structures• Mycelial threads: Underground network of

hyphae.

7. Hyphae: long strands of cells; make up the body of the fungi.

Fruiting body

Stalk

Ring

CapScale

Gills

Spores

HyphaeMycelial Threads

Interesting Fungi

• Cyclosporine: An organ transplant drug that is used to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ.

• Cordyceps lloydii: A deadly fungus that infects ants.

Predator mushrooms – Oyster mushroom use their mycelium to kill and eat round worms.

• Truffles: Very expensive fungus that is used to flavor foods. Pigs and dogs are used to hunt this fungus that is buried underground.

Black Truffles – 3 oz $180

White Truffles$800-$1,500Per pound

$763 White Truffle

• Fairy Rings: Interesting growth pattern of mushrooms.

Stinkhorns – smell like rotten meat to attract flies that spread their spores.

• A Fungus that parasitizes a fungus!

• A Fungus that parasitizes amoebas!

Aspergillus niger

• Used to create citric acid, an additive to many foods.

Science or Art

Wow!!