1. Fungi
-Food or Foe?-

2. Fungi Classification Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Fungi
Cell Type: Eukaryotic
Cell Number: Multicellular
Feeding: Heterotrophic Decomposers
Reproduction: Sexual

3. Special Fungi Structures
Fungi are decomposers. They consume dead organic matter by digesting externally and absorbing the nutrients directly into their cells
Fungi have cell walls like plants, but they are made of chitin instead of cellulose
Fungi reproduce using a powdery substance called spores. They are similar to seeds, but don’t survive as long.

4. Basidiomycota
Often called “club fungi” because they produce small clublike reproductive structures called basidia during sexual reproduction.
Includes
Mushrooms
Puffballs
Jelly Fungi

5. Which one can you eat?

6. Which one can you eat? Mushrooms
Mushrooms are the fruits of fungus like apples on a tree.
The true fungus is actually a net of threadlike fibers, called a mycelium.
The function of a mushroom is to produce spores, which are the “seeds” of the fungi.
The mushrooms most people recognize are the gilled fungi. These mushrooms are umbrella shaped and have caps with bladelike gills on the underside and stems that sometimes display rings.

7. Zygomycota
Most are terrestrial organisms found primarily in soil that is rich in organic matter
Includes the Common Molds

8. Which One Can You Eat?

9. Molds Microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter.
Made of many cells and can sometimes be seen with the naked eye. Under a microscope, look like skinny mushrooms.
Consist of:
-root threads that invade the food it lives on
-a stalk rising above the food
-spores that form at the ends of the stalks
Some cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems and/or can produce mycotoxins, poisonous substances that can make people sick.

10. Ascomycota
Sac Fungi- distinguished by the presence of saclike compartments where sexually produced spores form.
Includes
Yeasts – Unicellular fungi
Morels, Cup Fungi, and more.

11. Which one can you eat?

12. Which one can you eat? Yeast Unicellular fungi
Used for food preparation
Primary source of alcoholic fermentation in food sources (anaerobic respiration)
Produce CO2 and cause fermentation
Most common species
used is Saccharomyces cerevisiae

13. Functions of Yeast It causes bread to rise and get fluffy
It causes the carbonation in beer & sodas and forms alcohol

14. Fungal Symbiotic Relationships
Lichens – Fungus and a photosynthetic organism (either a green algae or cyanobacteria)
Mycorrhizae – Fungus and plant roots (help plant get nutrients by breaking down soil around root)

15. Fungal Parasites Decompose or grow on living things
Athlete’s foot and Ringworm
Caused by Dermatophytes

16. Life Cycle of Fungi