KEY CONCEPT Fungi are saprobes (decomposers)

Plants and Fungi have similar and dissimilar traits Plants: photosynthesis; true roots, stems, and leaves; cell walls with cellulose Plants and Fungi: non-moving, produce spores Fungi: absorb food with hyphae; cell walls with chitin

Fungi are multicellular organisms, with the exception of yeasts. hyphae mycellium fruiting body

Septate and Coenocytic hyphae

Sac Fungi (Ascomycota) Examples Yeasts are single-celled. Morels and truffles are multicellular. Form a reproductive sac, called an ascus.

Bread mold Zygomycota ("Conjugation Fungi") Molds that are often found on spoiled food including: bread, cheese and meat. Mycorrhizae belong to this group Form zygospores during reproduction

Club fungi (Basidiomycota). include mushrooms, puffballs, and shelf fungi reproductive structures called basidia

Imperfect Fungi (Deuteromycota) Group of fungi that produces asexually but sexual form is unknown Examples: leaf spot fungus, Penicillium, Aspergillus

Fungi reproduce sexually and asexually. Most fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually. Yeasts reproduce asexually through budding. Yeasts form asci during sexual reproduction.

Multicellular fungi have complex reproductive cycles. distinctive reproductive structures Basidiomycota have basidia Zygomycota have zygospores Ascomycota have asci

Alternation of Generations- part of reproductive cycle is asexual, part is sexual.

All fungi form spores and zygotes.

Fungi have + and – hyphae instead of male and female.

KEY CONCEPT Fungi recycle nutrients in the environment.

Fungi and bacteria are the main decomposers in any ecosystem. decompose dead leaves, twigs, logs, and animals return nutrients (carbon, nitrogen and minerals) to the soil absorb food quickly and recycle nutrients quickly

Fungi as pathogens A few fungi always cause disease Some are normally harmless, but can grow out of control under right conditions Yeast can overgrow in presence of antibiotic

Human Diseases Yeast infections from antibiotic use Ringworm Athlete’s foot

Plant Diseases Dutch elm disease Dutch elm disease Peach scab Gray mold Elm bark beetle Gray mold

Mutualistic Fungi Symbiotic relationship with another organism Both organisms benefit

Fungi and algae Lichens Fungi protect the algae Algae performs photosynthesis

→ Fungi and plant roots Mycorrhizae Fungi absorb nutrients and water Plant provides glucose from photosynthesis Cross Section of root →

Fungi and some insects form symbiotic relationships Leaf cutter ants build piles of leaves and add fungus. Fungus breaks down leaves and ants eat the mycelium!

Fungi are studied for many purposes. Fungi are useful in several ways. as food as antibiotics as model systems for molecular biology (eukaryote cells) Penicillum