Fungi   Fungi are split into 3 groups known as moulds, mushrooms and yeasts. Most fungi are beneficial or useful to us like yeast (bread, beer and wine making), mushrooms (food), those that make antibiotics & those used in composting. A few fungi are harmful or pathogenic. These include fungi that cause diseases such as athlete’s foot, thrush, ringworm, aspergillosis & pneumocystis pneumonia.

Structure of fungi A mushroom Reproductive structure (cap of mushroom) hyphae mycelium

Structure of bread mould spores Sporangium (reproductive structure containing spores) Mycelium of hyphae Sporangiophore (reproductive hyphum)

Structures & function of fungi Sporangium: a structure in which thousands of spores are produced and mature. Spores: reproductive structures that are dispersed by the wind. They germinate and grow into a new fungus Hyphae (spreading and absorbing): fine threads that grow throw the substrate or food. Sporangiophore /reproducing hyphum: sporangia develop on the tip of these hyphae. These hold the reproductive structures above ground to aid spore dispersal

Structures & function of fungi (continued) Mycelium: a network of hyphae Reproductive structure/cap: in mushrooms and toadstools the cap contains the spores.

Fungal diseases (research 2 of these) Thrush (Candidiasis) Athlete’s foot Ringworm (Dermatophytosis) Pneumocystis pneumonia Aspergillosis Cryptococcus meningitis Stachybotrys

Fungal Growth and Reproduction Fungi grow by producing long threads called hyphae. When food is in short supply fungi reproduce by asexual reproduction also known as spore formation. This process is shown in the diagrams on the next slide:

When spores land on a suitable food supply they start to grow hyphae Spores put out hyphae Bread After a few days sporangia (spore heads) appear. Sporangia Mature sporangia burst and release huge numbers of spores into the air

The advantage of asexual reproduction over sexual reproduction is it is a quick process requiring only one parent cell, producing genetically identical offspring The disadvantage of asexual reproduction over sexual reproduction is that there is no genetic variation and this

Sexual Reproduction in Fungi Fungi can reproduce by sexual reproduction but this is quite rare. The advantage of reproducing sexually is that this leads to variation which is very important if fungi want to survive.

How do fungi feed? Fungi feed in a similar way to bacteria, by extracellular digestion. Extracellular means outside the cell. Digestion means to break down food into small soluble substances.

Extracellular Digestion in Fungi