2. Is there a Fungus among us?

3. The Kingdom Fungi Fungi are not plants, they are eukaryotic (have nucleus) heterotrophs (rely on other organisms for food) that have cell walls made of chitin. Fungus = one Fungi = more than one

4. Fact: One of the largest living organisms on earth belongs to the Fungi kingdom. A large honey mushroom patch, originating from a single spore, grows in the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. The mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae, lives three feet underground is estimated to cover 2,200 acres. After testing samples from various locations, scientists say it is all one organism. Experts estimate that the giant mushroom is at least 2,400 years old. It lives underground and in autumn will bloom. This organism causes conifer root disease and is a serious problem in forests.

6. How do they eat with no mouth? They do not ingest their food. They digest food outside of their bodies and absorb it. Many absorb nutrients from decaying matter or live as parasites.

7. Parts of a Fungus Hyphae-thin single- cell thin filaments that run throughout the fungus, spreading and branching as the fungus grows;Hyphae-thin single- cell thin filaments that run throughout the fungus, spreading and branching as the fungus grows;

8. Parts of a Fungus Mycelium –tangled mass of hyphae: releases digestive enzymes and absorbsMycelium –tangled mass of hyphae: releases digestive enzymes and absorbs food food Fruiting body-Fruiting body- reproductive reproductive structure, ex. the cap of a mushroom

9. Reproduction Fungus can reproduce both sexually and asexually Asexual – two kinds –produce spores – a piece of hyphae can break off and grow a new fungus Sexual – two hyphae of opposite sex(+ and -) fuse their nuclei and create genetic diversity

10. A cloud of spores.

11. Why should you care about fungi? A few reasons: They make foods we like to eat Mycorrhizae (plant:fungal symbiosis that forms on plant roots) are responsible for plant life on land and high productivity rates They decompose wood and organic matter Penicillin and other medicines They’re just really cool!

12. Examples of foods made possible by fungi Yeast Beer and Wine Bread Mushrooms White button, crimini,portabella Truffles, chanterelles Mycoprotein (food additive like tofu) Cheese Rennin, blue cheese Soy sauce Citric acid (soft drinks)

13. Mycorrhizae “myco” = fungus and “rhiza” = root Symbiotic association between plant roots and fungi

14. Advantages to fungi Plants are a dependable and abundant source of carbohydrates

15. Advantages to plant Fungi are better than plants at acquiring mineral nutrition (P,K, N) from the soil. Fungi improve a plant’s access to water Because fungi –can access greater soil volume –can break molecules down into useable forms

16. Example: fungi expand the surface area available for nutrient uptake

17. Four Fungus groups Common mold – Zygomycota Sac fungi – Ascomycota Club fungi – Basidiomycota Imperfect fungi - Deuteromycota

18. Common Molds Have two kinds of hyphae: –Rhizoids – root like, anchor fungus, release digestive enzymes –Stolons – stem like, have sporangiophores which can contain up to 40,000 spores Phylum zygomycota Ex. Bread mold Life cycle includes zygospore (a resting spore that contains zygotes – sex cells)

19. Common mold structure

20. Sac Fungi Ascus – sac like structure that contains spores, part of fruiting body Produce tiny spores, which are produced by budding, called conidia, formed in conidiophores Yeast – single celled organisms produced by budding Phylum Ascomycota ex. Yeast, cup fungi

21. Club Fungi Phylum Basidiomycota Ex. Grocery store mushroom Basidium – found on gills under cap of mushroom, spores found here

22. Imperfect Fungus Composed of fungi that do not fit in any other phylum, because we have never been able to see the sexual phase of their life cycle. Ex. Penicillium – source of antibiotic penicillin Phylum Deueteromycota

23. True or False? People began eating mushrooms only a century ago.

24. False Although mushrooms have been cultivated commercially in the U.S. for about a century, they've been considered a delicacy since ancient times. In fact, Romans fed this "food of the gods" to soldiers before battle.

25. True or False? Mushrooms have no nutritional value.

26. False They contain essential amino acids, potassium, some B vitamins and some minerals.

27. True or False? Mushrooms are low in calories.

28. True

29. True or False? Poisonous species of mushrooms look different from edible ones.

30. False They may look almost identical.

31. True or False? Mushrooms do not undergo photosynthesis.

32. True

33. True or False? Fungus can travel at a greater acceleration than any other living thing.

34. True, kind a One species, a Pilobolus, releases its spores via a “water cannon” at a force of 180,000 g’s. A top roller coaster has an acceleration of 8-10 g’s. video