1. Introduction to the Fungi

2. Learning Objectives and Disclosure Information Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to: Set up a sampling station to collect airborne pollen and fungal spore Recognize the most common types of pollen found in the atmosphere Recognize the most common types of fungal spores found in the atmosphere No conflicts to disclose

3. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that are neither plant nor animal

4. Fungi include molds

5. Mushrooms

6. Puffballs

7. Bracket Fungi

8. Fungi can be unicellular such as yeast

9. Fungi usually have a thread like body made up of hyphae

10. Hyphae make up the mycelium

11. Hyphae also make up the structure of fruiting bodies such as mushrooms

13. Fungal Life Styles Fungi are absorptive heterotrophs As absorptive heterotrophs they exist as –Pathogens –Mutualistic symbionts –Saprobes

14. Common Human Pathogen

15. Apple-Cedar Rust A Destructive Plant Pathogen

16. Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of an alga and a fungus

17. The Majority of Fungi Are Saprobes

18. Most of the common airborne fungi are saprobes naturally occurring on leaf surfaces, decaying plant material, or in soil

19. Fungi reproduce by spores

20. Spores can result from sexual or asexual reproduction Mycelium Sexual Spores Mycelium Asexual Spores

21. Spore Release Mechanisms PASSIVE: Frequently related to wind speed and turbulence – include members of the “Dry Air Spora” which peak in the afternoon ACTIVE: Generally require moisture – common mechanism for ascospores and basidiospores –Basidiospores most abundant in predawn hours –Ascospores most abundant during or following rain; however, a number of ascospores only require high humidity and are abundant in predawn hours

22. SporangiumConidia on hyphae Sporangiospore or just “spore” Conidium Sporangiophore Conidiophore Types of Asexual Spores

23. Rhizopus Sporangium

24. Chains of Conidia

25. ZYGOMYCOTA -- Zygospores ASCOMYCOTA -- Ascospores BASIDIOMYCOTA -- Basidiospores ASEXUAL FUNGI -- Conidia - mold spores

26. Asexual Fungi Constitute an artificial group based only on asexual spores Most are members of the Ascomycota with a small percent members of the Basidiomycota Also called –Deuteromycetes –Imperfect Fungi (Fungi Imperfecti) –Mitosporic Fungi –Anamorphic Fungi –Mold Spores

27. Members of the Zygomycota produce asexual spores in a sporangium

28. The zygospore (zygosporangium) is the characteristic sexual structure of the Zygomycota

29. Characteristic sexual structure of the Ascomycota is the ascus containing 8 ascospores

30. Ascomycota Many members of the Ascomycota develop asci within a fruiting body. Fruiting bodies often called ascocarps Ascocarps can be –Flask-shaped –Cup-shaped –Other

31. Cup-shaped fruiting body

32. Morels are also cup-shaped fruiting body

33. Asci with ascospores from a morel

34. Abundant Airborne Ascospores Following Rain

35. Airborne Ascospores Still in Group of 8

36. Basidiomycota The most conspicuous fungi in the environment Basidiospores are typically produced in a large fruiting body such as –Mushrooms –Bracket Fungi –Puffballs

37. Characteristic spores are basidiospores and four basidiospores are produced externally on basidia

38. Basidia line the pores of bracket fungi and the gills of mushrooms

39. Single Basidium with 4 Basidiospores

40. Basidiospores are small and single-celled often with an asymmetric attachment peg

41. Rusts and Smuts Basidiomycota also includes two groups of fungi that lack fruiting bodies Rust fungi and smut fungi Important pathogens on both native and cultivated plants

42. Stem Rust of Wheat

43. Loose Smut of Wheat

44. Asexual Fungi