Kingdom Fungi (Eumycota) Other fungi-like eukaryote phyla Chitridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota Laetiporus sulphueus sulfur bracket Other fungi Mycologists Study Typical characteristics of fungi: - eukaryotic - achloroplastic - spore producing - heterotrophic by absorptive nutrition - filamentous branched somatic structure - typically have cell walls (chitin or cellulose) - ecologically saprophytic, parasitic, mutualistic - decompose complex organic matter Microbes of multiple Kingdoms are fungi 70,000 known Fungi; 1.5 million spp. suspected. Fungi Phylogeny Old Taxonomic System: Anamorphs vs teleomorphs are given different species binomials. Due to morphological differences and too few observation of both asexual and sexual stages. Deuteromycota are basically anamorphs for which the teleomorph is unknown. Hypha Septate vs Coenocytic (Nonseptate) Asexual Reproduction Chitridiomycota Diploid stage often minimal. Thallus (hyphae) not very complex or extensive. Asexual production of zoospores in sporangium. Plasmogamy is fusion of haploid hyphae or flagellated gametes. Karyogamy is fusion of nuclei which immediately follows plasmogamy to form a resting body. Many saprophytic taxa, e.g. Chytridiomyces halinus. Chitrid as parasites of eukaryotic algae (e.g. infected diatom). Zygomycota (e.g. Rhizopus stolonifer) Zygomycota Parasites Rotifer trapped by the lethal lollipop Nematode trapped in constricting rings. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota Life Cycles have Dikaryotic Stage Dikaryotic stage only found in sporocarp for Ascomycetes. Ascomycota Teleomorphs Most obvious are the apothecia (above; Morchellales, epigeous Pezizales; and hypogeous Pezizales). Others are just naked asci, perithecia, or cleistothecia. Yeast Form Ascomycetes (e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Ascomycota Phylogeny Basidiomycota (e.g. Agaricales Amanita pantherina Basidiomycota Phylogeny Gasteromycetes Tremellales (jelly fungi)