Fungi

• Spores: Reproductive structures
• General biology of Fungus

  • Hyphae: Thin filaments of cells
  • Mycelium: Mass of hyphae
• Most Fungi are saprotrophic (they eat on dead organic matter)
• Chytrids

  • The most primitive form of fungi
  • Are motile(unique)
  • Both spores and gametes have flagella
  • Generally inhabit water and soil
  • Some can undergo alternation of generations
• Black Bread Mold-Rhizopus

  • The hyphae grow horizontally and vertically
  • The mycelia are also involved in fungal reproduction
  • Can reproduce asexually and sexually
• Mushrooms

  • The club-like fruiting body of a fungi
  • Spore producing
• Plasmogamy: The sexual reproductive phase of the fungus and form dikaryotic nuclei
• Basidum: Spore-producing structures that develop within the gills of the cap
• Basidiospores: The haploid spores that usually are distributed by the wind
• Cordyceps Fungi: Endoparasites that alter the behavior of their hosts

  • Mind controlling fungi
• Lichens: a mutualistic relationship between fungi and algae(usually a cyanobacterium)

  • They have three cell layers
  • An upper and lower fungal cell layer
  • A middle algal layer
  • Lichens generally reproduce asexually
• Mycorrhizal fungi: fungi that usually form a mutualistic relationship with plant roots

  • These fungi help roots obtain water and nutrients by increasing the absorptive surface area
• Benefits of fungi

  • Decomposes organic matter and returns it to earth
  • They help us produce medicines and many types of food
  • Penicillium
  • Yeast can carry out alcoholic fermentation
  • We can use this to make breads, alcoholic beverages,and more
• Mycoses: are diseases caused by fungi

  caused

  • They have three levels of infection
  • Cutaneous: only affects the epidermal layers
  • Subcutaneous: affects deeper skin layers
  • Systemic: spread throughout the body
• Candida albicans has been known to cause the widest array of fungal diseases

  • Yeast infections
  • Oral thrush