FUNGI!

FUNGI!!• Mostly multi-cellular, but can be

unicellular• Can not move • Heterotrophs

– Decomposers; absorb nutrients

Fungus Structure

• Hyphae: thread-like filaments that develop spores

• Septa: cross walls that divide hyphae into individual cells

• Mycellium: the network of branched hyphae

Mycellium

SeptaHyphae

Fungus Structure

• Mycellium is made of different kinds of hyphae– 3 main functions

•Anchor fungus• Invade food source•Form reproductive structures

• Cell walls made of Chitin– Provides strength and flexibility to each

fungal cell

Obtaining Energy

• Heterotrophic Decomposers–Process used to digest food:

Extracellular digestion

–Hyphae grow into cells of organic material and release digestive enzymes that break down material and sent it thorough hyphae into the fungus

Types of Fungi: Zygomycote

• Bread Molds• Food Molds

Types of Fungi: Basidiomycotes

• More Familiar

• Mushrooms, puffballs, stink holes, and nest fungus

Types of Fungi: Ascomycote

• Largest division

• Sac Fungus-small sacs of fungus

• Used in genetic research, bread and alcohol production

• Examples: yeast

Types of Fungi: Deuteromycotes

• Used in vaccines: penicillin, antibiotics

• Examples: Penicillium

Fungal Reproduction

• Sexual or asexual, depending on species and environmental conditions

• Three methods:– Fragmentation: Asexual–Budding: Sexual–Spore Formation: Asexual OR

Sexual

Fungal Reproduction• Fragmentation

– Multicellular. Pieces of hyphae are broken off and grow into new mycelia. Ex: Deuteromycotes

• Budding– Unicellular. After mitosis, new cell “buds” from

the original. Ex: Zygomycotes

• Spore Formation– Multicellular. Spores produced in a

sporangium. Once spore is in a favorable environment where new mycellium is formed. Ex: Basidiomycotes, Ascomycotes, Zygomycotes

Symbiosis In Fungus

• Mutualism: Fungus and photosynthetic partner– Lichens: Fungus and

Green Algae

• Parasitism: Absorb nutrients from living things with special hyphae that help absorb the host’s nutrients

• Saprophytes: Decomposers; feed on dead waste