Fungi

• FUNGI

  • Decomposers obtain nutrients from dead organic matter
  • Parasites obtain nutrients from living organisms
  • Desiccation-resistant spores (produced sexually or asexually) proceeds to a resting stage in order to survive dry environment.
• FUNGI

  • sing FUNGUS
  • may be unicellular (yeast) or multi-cellular (molds, mushrooms) eukaryotic organisms
  • cells are enclosed in cell walls composed of chitin
  • lack chloroplast and chlorophyl thus are non-photosynthetic
  • grow best in moist areas wherever organic materials are available
  • can tolerate environment with a wide pH (2-9) and temperature range and can thrive thru environments with high osmotic pressure
• PHYLA OF THE KIGDOM FUNGI

  Zygomycota

  • Most primitive terrestrial fungi
  • Have thallus of coenocytic hyphae (one long cell that is not divided into compartments) in which nuclei are haploid when the organism is vegetative stage
  • Usually reproduce asexually by producing sporangiospores that can germinate when it reaches as appropriate substrate
  • Stolon that rapidly propagates on the surface of breads, fruits, and vegetable
• PHYLA OF THE KIGDOM FUNGI

  Zygomycota

  • Most are saprobes (live off decaying matter)
  • Some are parasites of plants, insects, and small animals
  • Others form symbiotic relationship with plants.
  • Examples: black bread mold; microsporidia
• PHYLA OF THE KIGDOM FUNGI

  Ascomycota

  • Includes molds that have septate hyphae (divided into compartments) and yeasts
  • Reproduce sexually through ascospores (sexual spores) produced in a sac or ascus; and asexually via conidiospores

  Examples

  • yeast
  • molds
  • powdery mildews
  • morels
  • truffles
• PHYLA OF THE KIGDOM FUNGI

  Basidiomycota

  • Also posses septate hyphae
  • Reproduce sexually through their basidiospore produced in the basidium (club-shaped structure)
  • Basidia are found along the gills or pores underside the cap of mushrooms
  • Some may produce toxins that are harmful and even lethal to human beings

  Examples

  • mushrooms
  • rusts
  • smuts
  • bracket fungi
  • puffballs
• PHYLA OF THE KIGDOM FUNGI

  Chytridiomycota

  • May be unicellular or composed of cells forming a thallus (body) which may have slender extensions called rhizoid (anchors to food source)
  • Small simple fungi that inhabit in ponds and damp soil; few species live in salt water
  • Most decomposers that degrades organic materials
  • Only fungi that have flagellated cells
  • Reproduce asexually through their spores with a single posterior flagellum; sexual reproduction has not been observed but some species that reproduce sexually have flagellated gametes

  Example

  • Chytridium
• IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI

  • Fungi are used in the production of wine, beer, bread, and distinctive cheese
  • Penicillin was there first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming from molds
• DRAWBACKS OF FUNGI

  • Fungi can cause many plant diseases such as Wheat rust, Dutch elm diseases, and Chestnut blight
  • Some fungi can also cause diseases in animals and humans such as ringworms, athlete’s foot and jock itch