1. THE FUNGUS AMONG US
KINGDOM FUNGI

2. More than just Mushrooms…
Club: Typical shape of “mushroom,” with spores on gills

3. More than just Mushrooms…
Club
Cup: Spores are in cup instead of gills

4. More than just Mushrooms…
Molds
Often found on food and decaying plant material.

5. More than just Mushrooms…
Molds
Yeasts
Unicellular fungi, reproduces by budding

6. More than just Mushrooms…
Molds
Yeast
Lichens
Grow on rocks and wood, a combination of a fungus and an algae.
Mutualistic relationship: algae provide nutrients for the fungus and fungal hyphae hold algae in place

7. CAP

8. CAP
SCALES

9. CAP
SCALES
GILLS

10. CAP
SCALES
GILLS
RING (ANNULUS)

11. CAP
SCALES
GILLS
RING (ANNULUS)
STALK (STIPE)

12. CAP
SCALES
GILLS
RING (ANNULUS)
STALK (STIPE)
CUP (VOLVA)

13. CAP
SCALES
GILLS
RING (ANNULUS)
STALK (STIPE)
CUP (VOLVA)
MYCELLIUM (HYPHAE)

14. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cap
Covers and protects the gills
Gills
Stalk or Stipe
Spore
Hyphae
Mycellium

15. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cap
Covers and protects the gills
Gills
Contains hyphae that produce spores
Stalk or Stipe
Spore
Hyphae
Mycellium

16. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cap
Covers and protects the gills
Gills
Contains hyphae that produce spores
Stalk or Stipe
Supports the Cap
Spore
Hyphae
Mycellium

17. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cap
Covers and protects the gills
Gills
Contains hyphae that produce spores
Stalk or Stipe
Supports the Cap
Spore
Cell that develops into a new organism
Hyphae
Mycellium

18. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cap
Covers and protects the gills
Gills
Contains hyphae that produce spores
Stalk or Stipe
Supports the Cap
Spore
Cell that develops into a new organism
Hyphae
Threadlike structure built of fungal cells
Mycellium

19. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cap
Covers and protects the gills
Gills
Contains hyphae that produce spores
Stalk or Stipe
Supports the Cap
Spore
Cell that develops into a new organism
Hyphae
Threadlike structure built of fungal cells
Mycellium
Body of fungus (except spores) made of tangled hyphae

20. ROLES OF FUNGI: Decomposition
Organic material is recycled by bacteria and fungi. It is broken down into its original components like Carbon and Nitrogen.

21. ROLES OF FUNGI: Decomposition
Example: Pilobolus fungi decomposes dung of grazing animals. Unique for its ability to “aim” at the light and “shoot” its spore packet so it will land on grass and be eaten by another grazing animal. The entire life cycle is then repeated.

22. Pilobolus

23. Pilobolus

24. ROLES OF FUNGI: Symbiosis
Mycorrhizal Fungi: Symbiotic fungi that live in or around roots of plants. They get food (sugar) from the plant in exchange for water and nutrients.
It is estimated that 99.9% of all plants have a fungal partner.

25. Mycorrhizal Fungi

26. Benefits of a Fungal Partner

27. ROLES OF FUNGI: Pathogens
Some fungi are parasitic, causing damage or death to plants, animals, and even other fungi!
Can cause severe damage to many crop plants including corn, wheat, potatoes, and fruits.

28. Harmful Fungi

29. Harmful Fungi

30. Harmful Fungi

31. Harmful Fungi

32. ROLES OF FUNGI: Medicines
Penicillin: Alexander Fleming discovered that mold could kill bacteria in During WWII (1940’s) the drug we know today was developed.

33. ROLES OF FUNGI: Medicines
New antibiotics are still being derived from fungi by people like Dr. Gary Strobel of Montana State University.

34. ROLES OF FUNGI:
Food
Several Mushrooms are used in our food…. Pizza anyone?!
Specialty Cheeses like Blue Cheese, Brie, etc.
Bread, Beer, and Wine are made with yeast.