Kingdom Fungi

What are fungi?

Eukaryotic heterotrophs that can be decomposers, parasites, or live mutually with other organisms

Where do you find fungi?

Everywhere- soil, water, air, land, in and on plants

What is the relationship between fungi in the soil and the plants and animals that live there?

The types of fungi in the soil dtermine the types of plants, which determines the types of animals that live there.

How many species of fungi are there? ~ a million

How do saprophytic fungi get nutrients? They secrete enzymes to break down

dead organic matter in recycling

How do parasitic fungi get nutrients? They obtain nutrients from living hosts

How are the cell walls of fungi different from the cell walls of plants?

Fungi have cell walls made of chitin, plants have cell walls made of cellulose

What is the storage carbohydrate in fungi? And how is it related to animals?

Glycogen. It is the same storage molecule animals

use to store carbohydrates in their muscle and liver cells

Do fungi reproduce sexually? Asexually? Or both? Both

Are fungi more related to the animal or plant kingdom? Animal

Structure of Fungi:Hyphae: a network of rootlike structures that

grow and branch until they cover and digest a food source

- Hyphae make up the bodies of Fungi:- Fruiting body: reproductive structure made

from a tangled mass of hyphae (this is what we see)

Mycelium is a tangled mass of hyphae that is underground

Mycelium

Fruiting body

Hyphae

Section 21-1

Figure 21-2 The Structure of a Mushroom

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How fungi spread and reproduce:

Asexually:

1) hyphae break off from a fungus and begin to grow on their own

2) spores that grow on the gills of the fruiting body

Both of these asexual forms can be carried by wind, insects or water and this causes the fungi to spread

Gills

How fungi spread and reproduce:

Sexually:

1) involves two different mating types (like female and male but not), which mate to form a new fungus

Four Phyla of Fungi

1. Threadlike Fungi Examples: Bread mold Characteristics: have sporangia (hyphae

that grow in the air and form spores)

FERTILIZATION

Diploid

Haploid

MEIOSIS

Sexual ReproductionAsexual

Reproduction

Section 21-2

Figure 21-5 The Life Cycle of Rhizopus

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Four Phyla of Fungi

2. Sac Fungi Examples: yeasts, mildew, morels Characteristics: Largest # of species and

have an Ascus: sacs containing spores

Morel

yeast

Four Phyla of Fungi

3. Club Fungi Examples: Mushrooms, shelf fungi,

puffballs Characteristics: Basidia: spore-bearing

structure on the gills (looks like a club) Can be poisonous

Four Phyla of Fungi

4. Imperfect Fungi Examples: Penicillum, ringworm, athlete’s

foot Characteristics: these fungi do not quite

fit into the other groups and most cause diseases in plants and animals

How Fungi Get Their Food: All fungi are heterotrophs, but they can

also be 1) Decomposers: break down dead stuff

2) Parasites: live off another living organism and can cause serious plant and animal diseases- corn smut, Dutch Elm disease, athlete’s foot, ringworm

How Fungi Get Their Food:

3) Mutualists: a relationship where both partners benefit

Examples of Mutualistic Relationships

1) Lichens: fungi and algae fungi provide water and protection from

intense sun while algae produce food extremely resistant to drought and cold

Examples of Mutualistic Relationships

2) Mycorrhizae: fungi that live in the roots of plants the fungi enable plants to absorb more

water and nutrients plants provide fungi with food