Kingdom Fungi There are four main characteristics of Fungi 1) fungi are eukaryotic they have nuclei in each cell (some are dikaryotic) & mitochondria 2)

Kingdom FungiThere are four main characteristics of Fungi

1) fungi are eukaryotic

• they have nuclei in each cell (some are dikaryotic) & mitochondria

2) they are heterotrophs

• they depend on other organisms for food

3) most of them are multi-cellular

4) they cannot move on their own

It is important to remember that fungi are NOT plants! As you can see on this phylogenetic tree, fungi have been proven to be more closely related to animals than any other

kingdom of living organisms.

Fungi Phylogeny

Fungi are different from plants in several ways

1) fungi lack chlorophyll- fungi are not photosynthetic- cannot produce their own food

2) they do not reproduce using seeds

3) most fungi have cell walls made of chitin- Plant cell walls are made of cellulose- Except molds - molds have cell walls made of cellulose

Fungi Phylogeny

Structure and Function

The part of the fungus that we see is only the “fruit” of the organism. This is used for reproduction.

The body of the fungus is called the mycellium.

Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Authorized.

Y_tambe. Retrieved on July.30.2010 from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain Access.

hypha – singular

hyphae – plural

mycellium – a largemass of hyphae

Hyphae are a network of thin thread-like structures that form the main living body of a fungus. Stolons and Rhizoids are types of Hyphae. Stolons run above the surface of the medium. Rhizoids run below the surface of the medium

Y_tambe. Retrieved on July.30.2010 from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain Access.


Spores contained in structures called sporangiophores are the reproductive structure of fungi. They develop into a single hyphae, which then grows to form a mass of hyphae called mycellium

single hyphaMass of hyphae (mycelium)



sporangiophore

Sporangium fungi reproduce by producing spores that are stored in structures found on the tips of the hyphae called sporangium.

•EX: Vegetable Mold•Vegetable mold produces sporangia that stick up above the vegetable

There are 4 Main Types of Fungi:1. Sporangium Fungi/Mold 2. Club Fungi3. Sac Fungi 4. Imperfect Fungi

1.Sporangium Fungi/Mold

Algont. Retrieved on July.30.2010 from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain Acess.

Types of Fungi

2. Club fungi - have a club-shaped fruiting body which produces the spores. The spores are located underneath the dome of the fruiting body in structures called gills. Eg. mushrooms

3. Sac Fungi - produce spores in sac-like structures

EX: yeasts, cup fungi, mildews



Coqui. Retrieved on July.31.2010 from http://tolweb.org/Fungi/2377. Creative Commons Access.

4) Imperfect Fungi – any type of fungi that can only reproduce asexually. This means that they do not use spores to reproduce. These may include any of the other three varieties of fungi as long as they can only reproduce asexually.

•cause most fungal diseases in humans

EX: ringworm, athletes foot, oral thrush

Falloonb. Retrieved on July.30.2010 from Wikimedia Commons Online. Public Domain Access.

Oral thrush Aphthae Candida albicans. PHIL 1217 lores.jpg. Center for Disease Control Public Health Images Library. Retrieved on December 27, 2010 from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oral_thrush_Aphthae_Candida_albicans._PHIL_1217_lores.jpg..

4809 lores.jpg.Wikimedia Commons user M.violante. Retrieved on December 27, 2010 from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:4809_lores.jpg.

How do Fungi feed?How do Fungi feed?

1. Some are decomposers1. Some are decomposers: they digest other organisms or : they digest other organisms or molecules to create energy.molecules to create energy.

ExamplesExamples:: common bread mold common bread mold

(digests starch)(digests starch) shelf fungi on logs shelf fungi on logs

(digests wood)(digests wood) white button mushrooms in white button mushrooms in

stores (digests dung)stores (digests dung)


How do Fungi feed?How do Fungi feed?2. 2. Some are symbiotic: they receive their energy Some are symbiotic: they receive their energy

(carbohydrates) directly from a (carbohydrates) directly from a

plant or algae. In this relationship, plant or algae. In this relationship,

a plant or algae uses the sun’s a plant or algae uses the sun’s

energy to produce sugars which energy to produce sugars which

are then given to the fungus for are then given to the fungus for

something in return, such as something in return, such as

nitrogen.nitrogen. ExamplesExamples::

Mycorrhizal fungi (live on plant roots)Mycorrhizal fungi (live on plant roots) Lichens (algae and fungi which live together)Lichens (algae and fungi which live together)


3. Predatory fungi:3. Predatory fungi: these fungi catch and these fungi catch and digest other organisms, such as nematodes, digest other organisms, such as nematodes, using their hyphae.using their hyphae.

Cordyceps fungi (kills and Cordyceps fungi (kills and

digests insects)digests insects)

How do Fungi feed?How do Fungi feed?

Britannica Online. Retrieved on July.31.2010 from http://www.britannica.com.

1. most fungi reproduce by using microscopic spores

EX: Mushrooms & puffballs release large clouds of spores. Each cloud contains millions of spores

2. Fungi can also reproduce from pieces of hyphae.

•Wind, water, and animals can carry pieces of hyphae to new places.

•If enough moisture and food is present, the spores/hyphae can grow into new fungi

Britannica Online. Retrieved on July.31.2010 from http://www.britannica.com.

How do Fungi reproduce?How do Fungi reproduce?

Why should you care about fungi?Why should you care about fungi?A few reasons:A few reasons:

1.1. MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae help plants to grow help plants to grow faster and largerfaster and larger

2. Penicillin and other medicines2. Penicillin and other medicines

Penicillium produces penicillin, which inhibits the growth of the bacterium in this Petri dish.

3. They make foods we like to 3. They make foods we like to eat.eat.Examples of foods made possible by fungiExamples of foods made possible by fungi

YeastYeast Beer and Wine Beer and Wine BreadBreadMushroomsMushrooms White button, crimini,portabellaWhite button, crimini,portabella TrufflesTruffles MycoproteinMycoprotein(food additive like tofu)(food additive like tofu)

Cheese

•Soy sauce

Citric acid

(soft drinks)

4. They decompose wood and organic matter

Images Copyright D.Bausch. Public Domain Access Gratned.

The Fungi Kingdom1. Define the term mycology.

2. List 4 main types of fungi and give an example of each.

3. List 4 characteristics of fungi.

4. Explain 2 ways that fungi are different from plants.

5. Define hyphae. Explain what it does and where it is located.

6. Define mycelium. Explain what it does and where it’s located.

7. Which of the 4 types of fungi is bread mold?

The Fungi Kingdom

8. Which part of the fungi carries out reproduction?

9. List the two ways that fungi reproduce?

10. Which type of fungi causes most fungal diseases in humans?

11. List 3 examples of human diseases caused by fungus.

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Kingdom Fungi There are four main characteristics of Fungi 1) fungi are eukaryotic they have nuclei in each cell (some are dikaryotic) & mitochondria 2)