Fungi

By: Danielle Noe

What is Fungi?

• Fungi is a group of plants that have no chlorophyll. Some fungi have single celled organisms and some are multi-cellular. There are many types of fungi.

Structure and Function

• Hyphae: Main body, made of fine, branching, colorless threads.

• Mycelium: Each fungus has many hyphae all intertwining to make up this usually to small for the human eye.

• Septa: cross walls dividing cells of mycelium.• Filamentous: They have a filamentous cell structure. (Fine, thin,

string like)• Chitin: They have chitin cell walls rather than cellulose.

Matter and Energy Flow

• Cellular Respiration: Bacteria and fungi eat on the decomposing animal or plant and get nutrients from it. They then use the energy and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• Photosynthesis: Since fungus grows from the ground they are nonphotosynthetic plants.

Matter and Energy Flow

• How does it live? • Fungi eats on dead organic matter or grows on other

organisms to get nutrients for growth.

• Where does fungi live?• Fungi can be found in many different environments

and will grow on almost anything. • Example: On your feet (Athlete’s foot), can cause ring worm,

and on many foods.

Osmosis

• Osmosis: Osmosis is important in growth- entry of water forces it to extend at the tip. It enters through pores on the lower surfaces which are not covered by a cuticle.

• Absorption of water by plant roots

Diffusion

• Diffusion: Diffusion is important because fungi decomposes organic wastes and remains of dead plants so diffusion helps by returning nutrients such as nitrogen back to the soil.

Pictures of Fungus

Mushrooms

Blue Cheese

Toenails

Fun Facts!

• The Kingdom Fungi has over 100,000 species.

• Each cell has 1 or 2 nuclei.

• It is one of the five kingdoms of organisms because it is closer to animals than plants.

• Study of fungi is called mycology.

• Fungus is not dependant on light and can grow in any directions.

Fun Facts!

• Fungi does not digest their food.

• They digest food outside of their body and absorb it.

• Some live as parasites.

• Most fungi reproduce by spores.

• Fungi are classified into 3 groups based on their sexual reproductive structures.

• Some are helpful to humans.