Disease- Causing Fungi

Discuss three diseases you know something about. What are the effects of these diseases?

Essential Question How do disease-causing fungi affect plants? ?

Fungi: One of the five kingdoms of organisms. Not autotrophs (can’t make their own food) Many fungi grow in or on other organisms

Fungi are heterotrophs, but they don’t move. How do they get their food?

Fungi & Plants Some Fungi cause diseases in those plants that result in huge crop losses. A Fungus infected tree, fruit or grass can eventually be killed Examples: – Grain Mold – Corn Smut – Wheat Rust Mold growth covering a decaying peach.

Why is wheat rust dangerous?

Why is corn smut dangerous?

Crops Affected by Fungi Corn Wheat Rice Cotton Rye Soybeans

Irish Potato Famine Read the first four paragraphs on this site: /famine/begins.htm What affect did the potato famine have on Ireland and the United States?

Are Fungi The “Bad Guys”? Some fungi are helpful. Fungi help decompose (break down) dead things People use some fungi as medicine (penicillin) Some animals eat fungi

Corn Smut Helpful or Harmful?

Wheat Rust Helpful or Harmful?

Mushrooms Helpful or Harmful?

Grain Mold Helpful or Harmful?

Penicillin Helpful or Harmful?

Fungi on Dead Tree Trunk Helpful or Harmful?