Kingdom Fungi

What are Fungi? Eukaryotes Multicellular (except yeast) Heterotrophic – digest food outside of body and then absorb it – feed by absorbing nutrients from decaying matter in the soil Cell walls made up of chitin, a complex carbohydrate

Structure and Function Composed of hyphae which are only one cell thick Bodies of fungi are composed of masses of tangled hyphae called mycelium The mycelium is well suited to absorb food because it permits a large surface area to come in contact with the food source through which it grows Fruiting body is a reproductive structure that grows from the mycelium in the soil beneath it  multiple mushrooms may grow from the same mycelium making it one organism The fungus you see above ground is actually the fruiting bodies.

Fungal Hyphae Hyphae are the individual threads, while mycelium is all of the hyphae put together.

Reproduction Both asexual and sexual Asexual reproduction takes place in two ways Cells or hyphae break off and grow into a new organism Production of spores Produced in sporangia found at the tips of specialized hyphae called sporangiophores

Reproduction Sexual reproduction involves two different mating types: + and - (plus and minus) When hyphae of opposite mating types meet, they start sexual reproduction by fusing and bringing the 2 nuclei together After a period of growth, the nuclei form a zygote  move into meiosis  produces haploid spores which are released and develop into new organisms

Mode of nutrition All fungi are heterotrophs. Many obtain food from dead and decaying organic matter Play an essential role in maintaining equilibrium in nearly every ecosystem, where they recycle nutrients by breaking down the bodies and wastes of other organisms Others are parasitic – they can live directly on or within an organism

Parasitic Fungi

How Fungi Spread Found almost everywhere Spores are released by fungus and are scattered by wind Spores must land in a favorable environment  proper combination of temperature, moisture, and food

Groups of Fungi There are 4 phyla of fungi Zygomycota (Common Molds) Ex - Rhizopus stolonifer (black bread mold) Asexual – spores in sporangiophores Sexual – fusion of gametangia resulting in zygospores

Rhizopus stolinifer

Groups of fungi Ascomycota (Sac Fungi) Ex – Cup Fungi, Yeasts, Truffles, Neurospora (red bread mold) Asexual – conidia on conidiaphores Sexual – fusion of hyphae resulting in ascospores in ascus

Cup Fungi

Truffles

Neurospora

Groups of Fungi Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Ex – mushrooms, puffballs, bracket fungi Asexual – none or conidia on conidophores Sexual – fusion of cells on hyphae resulting in basidiospores on a basidium

Mushrooms

Puffballs

Bracket Fungi

Groups of Fungi Deuteromycota (Imperfect Fungi) Penicillium Ex – penicillium, athletes foot Asexual – Conidia on conidiophores Sexual - none Penicillium