Kingdom Fungi 3.1 Image from: http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/microfungi.htm Not sure what type of microscopic fungi this is…looks like an image of hyphae.

What are Fungi? Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus Clockwise from top left:Amanita muscaria, a basidiomycete;Sarcoscypha coccinea, an ascomycete;bread covered in mold;a chytrid;an Aspergillus conidiophore.

Fungi & Plants multicellular eukaryotes mostly sessile many grow in the ground Image from: http://www.biologyjunction.com/SpecializationLinksplants.htm

Image from: http://sharon-taxonomy2009-p3.wikispaces.com/Protista Shows that Fungi are more closely related to animals, not plants.

Characteristics of Most Fungi mycelium (branched network of hyphae) forms the body of the fungus, usually below ground; cell walls with chitin reproductive structures are usually above ground All fungi are heterotrophic.

Diversity of Fungi 5 major phyla including: chytrids which have swimming spores zygomycetes which include bread & fruit moulds glomeromycetes which all form symbiotic relationships with plants etc…

Life Cycles some are complicated, with stages of sexual & asexual reproduction basidiomycetes (such as mushrooms) sometimes have dikaryotic cells with 2 nuclei yeast (an ascomycete) reproduces by budding

Benefits of Fungi decomposers like bacteria important symbiotic relationships with plants Image of “Happy Fungi” from: http://rachaelherbert.blogspot.ca/2010/04/happy-fungi.html

Lichens fungi + cyanobacteria or green algae Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orange_and_white_lichen.jpg

Mycorrhiza fungal mycelium grows around or within root cells of plant Image from: http://www.greenmanconservation.co.uk/Mycorrhiza.htm

Leaf-Cutter Ants ants clean and chew leaves to feed fungus ant eats fungus Image from: http://albertan1956.blogspot.ca/2011/01/leaf-cutter-ants-overachievers-of.html

More benefits… edible mushrooms, truffles used to make soy sauce, bread, blue cheese production of alcoholic beverages & some drugs Image from: http://www.zazzle.ca/i_love_fungi_mug-168034745342975532 Drugs like penicillin (antibiotic), cyclosporine (for organ transplants)

Harmful Fungi fungal animal diseases (athlete’s foot, ringworm, aspergillosis, etc.) fungal plant diseases (apple scab, etc.) Image from: http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/183031/angry-fungi.html