*Adapted from David Porter’s PowerPoint (UGA)* FUNGI *Adapted from David Porter’s PowerPoint (UGA)*

Fungi are diverse and numerous More than 100,000 species of fungi described Estimated 1.5x106 total number of species Not all fungi related Organisms in three separate kingdoms have been called ‘fungi’ Filamentous fungi, watermolds, slime molds

Nematoloma fasciculare Achlya racemosa Photo H.Jaksch

Characteristics of Fungi most grow as microscopic branched filaments called hyphae Feed on organic material by secreting digestive enzymes – extracellular digestion Fungi absorb their digested food into their hyphae Reproduce by spores

Fungal spores

Mushrooms make millions of spores Spore print from Psathryella

Fungal spores grow into filamentous mycelium

Fungi produce fruiting bodies from the mycelium

Different groups of fungi are defined by the spores that they produce. Fungal Biodiversity Different groups of fungi are defined by the spores that they produce. Chytridiomycota (chytrids) motile zoospores We won’t cover this group instead we will look at the Deuteromycota (impefect fungi) No sexual reproduction Example: Penicillium notatum is a mold that frequently grows on fruit and is the source of the antibiotic penicillin. Zygomycota (bread molds) non-motile spores in a sporangium Ascomycota (sac fungi and yeast) asexual spores – conidia Sexual spores – ascospores Basidiomycota (club fungi and mushrooms) Sexual spores - basidiospores

chytrids

Deuteromycota

Zygomycetes – bread mold

Ascomycetes – sac fungi Xylaria polymorpha – dead man’s fingers

Basidiomycetes – club fungi Mushrooms Puffballs Earthstars Stinkhorns Bird’s nest fungi Rusts Smuts

Fungi behave in three different ways Decomposers Example: forest litter decomposition, wood rot, food spoilage Parasites Examples: leaf spot, root rot, athlete’s foot Symbionts Examples: mycorrhizas, leaf endophytes, lichens

Human uses of Fungi Food – cheeses, mushrooms, mycoprotein Fermentation – wine, beer Industrial fermentation – citric acid, others Medicine – penicillin, cyclosporin

Fungal abuses of humans Pathogens – dermatophytes, systemic diseases Agricultural pests – crop diseases Toxins – mushrooms, molds