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Learn about the characteristics, reproduction, examples, and roles of fungi. Explore how fungi can be beneficial in industries such as food and medicine, as well as their potential disadvantages in causing allergies and crop damage.
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Basic Characteristics • Fungi are heterotrophs that absorb their food. • Fungal cell walls are made of chitin. • Fungi are multicellular organisms, with the exception of yeasts.
FUNGI • 3 phyla: • Zygomycota • Basidiomycota • Ascomycota
Ascocarp – cuplike structure from which ascospores are released ASCOMYCOTAcharacteristics
“sac fungi” – sacs (asci) within ascocarp ASCOMYCOTAcharacteristics
Brewer’s & baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ASCOMYCOTAexamples
morels ASCOMYCOTAexamples
truffles ASCOMYCOTAexamples
Asexual – conidia, budding Sexual – asci produce ascospores ASCOMYCOTAreproduction
Basidiocarp aboveground structure consisting of a stalk & cap with rows of gills radiating out from the center BASIDIOMYCOTAcharacteristics
BASIDIOMYCOTAcharacteristics • “club fungi” – clublike basidia
mushrooms BASIDIOMYCOTAexamples
Jelly fungi BASIDIOMYCOTAexamples
Puffballs BASIDIOMYCOTAexamples
BASIDIOMYCOTAexamples • Bracket fungi
Asexual – rare Sexual – basidia produce basidiospores BASIDIOMYCOTAreproduction
ZYGOMYCOTAcharacteristics • Mostly terrestrial found primarily in soil rich in organic matter
Bread mold (Rhizopus) Penicillium species ZYGOMYCOTAexamples
Asexual - sporangiospores Sexual – conjugation results in zygospores ZYGOMYCOTAreproduction
Reproduction • Most fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually. • Yeasts reproduce asexually through budding. • Fungi reproduce sexually by producing spores. (Look back at different phyla).
Fungi may be decomposers, pathogens, or mutualists. • Fungi and bacteria are the main decomposers in any ecosystem. • decompose dead leaves, twigs, logs, and animals • return nutrients to the soil • can damage fruit trees and wooden structures
Fungi can act as pathogens. • human diseases include ringworm and athlete’s foot • plant diseases include Dutch elm disease • Mold spores • Attack crops (corn)
Fungi can act as mutualists. - lichens form between fungi and algae - mycorrhizae form between fungi and plants
Benefits/Advantages • Production of antibiotics – penicillin, cephalosporin • Yeast is used to produce ethanol, a main ingredient in the automobile fuel gasohol
Benefits • Used in food industry: • Mushrooms used as food – Agaricus (white button), shiitake, portabella, truffles, morels • Cheeses – blue, brie • Beer, wine – yeast used in fermentation • Soy products – miso, soy sauce, tofu • Breads – yeast causes bread to rise
Benefits • Many are decomposers – cycle matter & nutrients in the ecosystem
Disadvantages • Mold spores can cause mild to severe allergies – sniffling, sneezing, & respiratory distress • Attack food crops – corn, beans, onions, squashes, tomatoes • Cause skin infections – athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, vaginal yeast infection • Can be poisonous • Amanita (“death angel” or “destroying angel”) can destroy the liver within 1 week • Aspergillus produce aflatoxins – poisons that cause liver cancer