33. Although some wild mushrooms are edible, many are poisonous. Mushroom gathering should be left to experts who can positively identify each mushroom.

36. Penicillium notatum is a mold that frequently grows on fruit and is the source of the antibiotic penicillin.

37. Many fungi are saprobes. Saprobes are organisms that obtain food from decaying organic matter. 38. Fungi play an essential role in maintaining equilibrium in the ecosystem because they recycle nutrients by breaking down the bodies and wastes of other organisms.

39. Parasitic fungi cause serious plant and animal disease. Five fungi that cause disease are: athlete’s foot, corn smut, wheat rust, Candida albicans (yeast infection), ringworm, and Cordyceps.

40. Lichens are symbiotic associations between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism (algae or cyanobacteria). 41. The algae carries out photosynthesis, providing the fungus with a source of energy. The fungus provides the algae with water and minerals it collects and protects it from direct sunlight. 42. Lichens are able to survive in almost any environment.

43. Mycorrhizae are associations of plant roots and fungi. 44. The tiny hyphae of the fungi aid plants in absorbing water and minerals by producing a network that covers the roots and increases their surface area. The plants provide the fungi with the products of photosynthesis (glucose).