Fungi

Shared Characteristics Distinctive fungal features Fungi are heterotrophs. Fungi have several cell types. Some fungi have a dikaryon stage. Two haploid cells coexisting in a single cell (dikaryon) before fusion to form nucleus (diploid) Fungi have cell walls that include chitin. Fungi undergo nuclear mitosis. In mitosis, nuclear membrane does not breakdown, mitosis occurs in the nucleus

The Body of a Fungus Fungi exist mainly in the form of slender filaments (hyphae). long chains of cells joined end-to-end divided by cross-walls (septa) rarely form complete barrier cytoplasm freely streams in hyphae mycelium - mass of connected hyphae grows through and penetrates substrate

The Body of a Fungus Fungi cell walls are formed of polysaccharides and chitin. not cellulose like those of plants Mitosis is unique. nuclear envelope does not break down and re-form spindle apparatus formed within spindle plaques take place of centrioles

How Fungi Reproduce Differ from most animals and plants in that each compartment of hypha can contain one, two or more nuclei monokaryotic - each compartment has a single nucleus dikaryotic - two distinct nuclei within each hyphae compartment

How Fungi Reproduce Fungi are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. Fungi reproduce sexually after two hyphae of opposite mating type fuse. in some fungi fusion two haploid cells immediately results in diploid cell (2n) basidiomycetes and ascomycetes have dikaryotic stage (1n + 1n) before parental nuclei fuse to form diploid nucleus

Hyphal growth from spore germinating spore mycelium Mycelia have a huge surface area

Four Major Groups of Fungi Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Basidiomycota Ascomycota

Chytridiomycota aquatic, flagellated fungi most closely related to ancestral fungi

Zygomycota includes common bread molds produces temporarily dormant zygosporangia sexual reproduction occurs by fusion of gametangia asexual reproduction most common hyphae produce clumps of erect stalks - sporangiophores form sporangia

The life cycle of the zygomycete Rhizopus (black bread mold)

Zygomycota

Ascomycota Very large group including yeasts, common molds, and morels Named for reproductive structure ascus haploid zygotic nucleus formed within asci differentiated with ascocarp Asexual reproduction takes place in conidia spores at the end of conidiophores.

A moldy orange (left), Penicillium (right)

Penecillium Conidiophores carrying Conidia

Antibiotics المضادات الحيوية

Ascomycota

Sac Fungi: Ascomycetes - Life cycle

Ascomycota Yeasts unicellular - most reproduction is asexual and takes place by cell fission or budding ferment carbohydrates play a leading role in genetic research

Basidiomycota Most familiar fungi (mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, rusts, and smuts) named for characteristic sexual reproductive structure, basidium Four haploid products of meiosis incorporated into basidiospores Mycelium made up of monokaryotic hyphae is called primary mycelium. fusion of different mating types forms dikaryotic, secondary mycelium.

Gills (reproduction)

Basidiomycota

The life cycle of a mushroom-forming basidiomycete

Ecology of Fungi Mutualistic associations lichens - fungi and green algae mycorrhizae - fungi and plant roots

Lichens Lichens are symbiotic associations between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner. usually ascomycetes Specialized fungal hyphae penetrate photosynthetic cells and transfer nutrients to fungal partner. Durable fungus, combined with photosynthetic properties, has enabled lichens to invade harsh climates. extremely sensitive to pollutants

Mycorrhizae Roots of about 90% of all kinds of vascular plants are involved in mutualistic symbiotic relationships (mycorrhizae). arbuscular mycorrhizae - fungal hyphae penetrate outer cells of plant root most common ectomycorrhizae - hyphae surround, but do not penetrate, cell walls of roots

Mycorrhizae