Fungi KingdomFungi Kingdom

Mycology -the study of fungifungi - plural

fungus – singular

1) eukaryotic •Cells have a nucleus

2) heterotrophic •they do not make their own food

3) multi-cellular4) Have cell wall made of chitin not cellulose

Characteristics of Fungi

Fungi Kingdom CharacteristicsFungi Kingdom Characteristics

fungal – adjective

•Except yeasts

5) Do not move

1) Fungi are not photosynthetic. They lack chlorophyll.

2) Fungi never reproduce by seeds3) Fungi have cell walls made of chitin not cellulose!

3 Reasons Fungi Are Different From Plants

•most are saprophytes /some parasitesSaprophyte-feeds on dead/decaying organisms

Fungi are not plants!!Fungi are not plants!!

Hyphae - thread-like structures that form the “body” of a fungus

•hyphae grow and branch until they cover and digest the food source

hypha - singular

hyphae - plural

Parts of FungiParts of Fungi

single hypha

Mass of hyphae (mycelium)

Starts as a spore

Most reproduce Most reproduce using sporesusing spores

•fungi spores are microscopic

Spore Dispersal: Spores are spread by wind, water or animals

Zygote fungi reproduces by spores made in sporangia

•Sporangia- structures found on the tips of hyphae that make spores

1. Zygote Fungi- mainly molds

Sporangia

Types of FungiTypes of Fungi

2. Club fungi - have a club-shaped part which produces the spores

•Example: Mushrooms

Club FungiClub Fungi

3. Sac Fungi - produce spores in sac-like structures called asci (ascus)

Sac FungiSac Fungi

Includes some molds, yeasts, morels and truffles

4) Imperfect fungi – zygote, sac, and club fungi that reproduce asexually. The sexual stage is not known.

ringworm athletes foot thrush

Imperfect fungiImperfect fungi

Cause of most fungal infections in humans

LichenLichenA type of fungi that is unusual in its design. It is a symbiotic relationship (mutualism) between a fungus and an algae or a fungus and cyanobacteria. The organisms help each other.

Examples of FungusExamples of FungusTree Fungus (bracket

fungi type of club fungi)

Moldy Fruit

Truffles

Harmful FungiHarmful Fungi

Cause food spoilageCause plant disease such as rusts, Dutch

Elm Disease, and mildewCause Human diseases such as Ring Worm,

Athlete’s Foot, Thrush, lung Infections, and Yeast Infections

Destroy leather, fabrics, plastics, wood etc.

Helpful FungiHelpful Fungi

Food – mushrooms Used to make cheese – Bleu Cheese Used to make alcohol (Yeast) Used to make bread rise Used to make soy sauce from soy beans Used to break down materials and recycle wastes

and dead organisms Used to make certain antibiotics (ex. Penicillin)