1 Fungi

2 General Characteristics of Fungi Range in size from unicellular to being the largest known living organism Are a wide variety of shapes and colors All are heterotrophs Have cell walls made of chitin

3 3 Main Characteristics 1. Feeding: Fungi release chemicals that digest the substance on which they are growing and then they absorb the digested food

4 3 Main Characteristics 1. Feeding: Some obtain food through a symbiotic relationship – either parasitic or mutualistic Many are decomposers (break down dead organisms)

5 3 Main Characteristics 2. Structure: A few, such as yeast, are unicellular Saccharomyces cerevisiae - Baker's Yeast Photo by: Bob Blaylock 23_Yeast_Live.jpgBob Blaylock 23_Yeast_Live.jpg

6 3 Main Characteristics 2. Structure : Most are multicellular, made up of thread- like tubes called hyphae Hyphae can grow quickly (up to 40 meters per hour) Photo by: Bob Blaylock _1818_Mold.jpgBob Blaylock _1818_Mold.jpg

7 3 Main Characteristics 2. Structure: Although multicellular, there is little cell specialization and hyphae may be large multinuclear cells that are continuous or only incompletely divided Trametes versicolor Photo by ZEISS Microscopy Non-septate Hyphae Racette

8 3 Main Characteristics 3. Reproduction: Many fungi reproduce by means of spores Fungal spores are tiny, reproductive cells that are enclosed in a protective cell wall Spores are very small and light weight

9 3 Main Characteristics 3. Reproduction: Spores are produced in special structures called fruiting bodies Fruiting bodies may be simple or complex A single fruiting body may produce trillions of spores

10 3 Main Characteristics Reproduction: Fruiting Bodies Earthstar Photo by Josef F. Stuefer F. Stuefer Stinkhorn Photo by: Birger Fricke lus_impudicus_Stinkmorchel.jpg lus_impudicus_Stinkmorchel.jpg Scarlet Elf Cup Photo by Ian Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Photo by Hans Hillewaert muscaria_(fruiting_body).jpg muscaria_(fruiting_body).jpg Truffle PublicDomain: uffe_noire_du_P%C3%A9rigord.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tr uffe_noire_du_P%C3%A9rigord.jpg

11 3 Main Characteristics Reproduction: Fruiting Bodies Coral Fungus Photo by: Dan Molter ngeri_90973.jpg Bread Mold Public domain d_bread.JPG d_bread.JPG Polypores Photo by: Cayce from Malaysia Black Morel Photo by Beentree conica_1_beentree.jpg conica_1_beentree.jpg

12 Forms of Fungi The scientific classification of fungi is complex with over 60,000 known species divided into four taxonomic Divisions For discussion purposes fungi may be loosely grouped into 3 groups (mushrooms, yeasts and molds) but many species do not fit into these groups.

13 Forms of Fungi 1. Mushrooms: Fruiting bodies: above ground, shaped like umbrellas Vegetative portion: below ground, hyphae

14 Forms of Fungi 1. Mushrooms: Lactarius indigo Photo by: Dan Molter Public domain: bavarian-forest-plant / bavarian-forest-plant / Public Domain: D-les-sponge-mushrooms / D-les-sponge-mushrooms /

15 Forms of Fungi Yeasts Unicellular Produce carbon dioxide as they grow (a by-product of respiration) Used to produce bread, fuel, vitamins, alcoholic beverages, chemicals and medicines Some can cause disease

16 Forms of Fungi Yeasts Reproduce by budding-when a portion of the yeast cell pushes out of the cell wall and forms a bud that eventually breaks away to form a new yeast cell Public Domain: e_under_DIC_microscopy.jpg e_under_DIC_microscopy.jpg Budding Yeast Cells

17 Forms of Fungi Molds Fuzzy, shapeless, fairly flat fungi that grow on the surface of an object Used to make many foods such as some cheeses and soy sauce Mold on a Tomato Photo by: Calimo on_tomatoes_(macro).jpg on_tomatoes_(macro).jpg Blue Cheese Public Domain: cheese-blue-mold-mold-3491/ cheese-blue-mold-mold-3491/ Mold on a Clementine ementine.jpg

18 Forms of Fungi Molds Penicillium is a mold that produces penicillin (Discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming) wisc.edu/toms_fu ngi/nov2003.htmlhttp://botit.botany. wisc.edu/toms_fu ngi/nov2003.html Photo by: Dr. Sahay ki/File:Penicillium_Spp..j pg Penicillium chrysogenum: source of penicillin Photo by: Crulina 98 Sir Alexander Fleming _Production_of_Penicillin_TR1468.jpg