Fungi Fun Guy

What is a fungus? Fungus: singular, fungi: plural Heterotrophs: obtain food from living and non-living organisms Use spores to reproduce Eukaryotes Cannot perform photosynthesis Live in moist, shady areas

Structure of Fungi Most contain threadlike tubes called hyphae. The appearance of the fungi depends on the arrangement of the hyphae. Example: loosely tangled = molds tightly packed = mushrooms

How fungi obtain food 1. Grows hyphae into food source 2. Digestive chemicals break down food 3. Nutrients are absorbed through hyphae Why do they need food? Release energy through cellular respiration: cells break down food molecules to release energy for daily life processes glucose(sugar) + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water Some fungus feed on dead organisms others are parasites.

Reproduction Reproduce by means of spores (a small cell that will grow into a new organism when conditions are correct) Spores contained in structures called fruiting bodies. Asexual reproduction: hyphae develop into fruiting bodies, which release spores. Spores land and when conditions are appropriate, the spore will develop into hyphae and into a fungus. Repeat. Sexual reproduction: hyphae grow together, combine genetic material, grow a fruiting body, and release spores. Spores will land and grow new hyphae and into a new fungus. Video of reproduction in fungi

How are spores spread? Wind Water Animals Other??

Classification of Fungi Classified according to the shape of their spore-producing structures: ● Thread-like (bread mold) ● Club (mushrooms, puffballs) ● Sac (yeast, morels, truffles) ● Imperfect (Pencillium)

Fungi and the REAL WORLD *Decomposers: an organism that breaks down large chemicals into small chemicals and returns important materials to the soil What would happen without decomposers?? Food Disease-causing Ex. Athlete’s foot, ringworm, plant disease Disease-fighting Antibiotics can be obtained from fungi Fungus-plant relationships: Fungi lives inside some plant’s roots & helps the roots obtain water and nutrients. The fungi receives more nutrients from the roots.

Yeasts  Fungi called sac fungi “Spores contained in a sac like structure “Obtain energy through fermentation in which sugar and starches are changed into alcohol and carbon dioxide. “Reproduce by budding (asexual)

Grow on bread Long hyphae on surface Short hyphae grows into bread Black spheres carry spore cases Molds