1. Mycology = Study of FUNGI Mushrooms, Toadstools, Boletes, Yeasts, Molds, Mildews, Puffballs, Stinkhorns….

2. FUNGI Huge group of very successful organisms – found in virtually all ecological niches on Earth. Largest single organism on Earth is a fungus. Traditionally, fungi (particularly mushrooms) have been studied by botanists, however, they are “achlorophyllous”.

3. Characteristics of Fungi Heterotrophic (Saprobic or Parasitic) –Extracellular digestion Enzymes break down macromolecules  dimers & monomers. These digestion products are then absorbed. –An adaptive morphology allows for sufficient surrounding of food and sufficient energy intake to counteract the energy spent in digestive enzyme production.

4. Characteristics of Fungi Morphological –Most are filamentous (adaptive morphology for increased surface area). –Vegetative body called a Mycelium (pl. Mycelia). –A Mycelium is composed of numerous Hyphae (sing. Hypha), each 1 cell wide.

5. Characteristics of Fungi The vegetative (somatic) body of a fungus is the Mycelium: the absorptive, “adult”, feeding stage.

6. Characteristics of Fungi Cell Wall

7. Characteristics of Fungi Rhizomorphs – root like masses of hyphae.

8. Characteristics of Fungi A fraction of the vegetative mycelium is devoted to reproduction. Specialized hyphae bearing Spores. Spores are tiny propagules.

9. Spores Dispersal Protection Survival Reproduction. Asexually-produced spores are disseminative. Sexually-produced spores are reproductive AND disseminative.

10. Asexually-Produced Spores Spores are borne on hyphal tips called Conidia (sing. Conidium) or in Sporangia (sing. Sporangium). Produced by Mitosis & Cell Division. Clones (genetically-identical progeny) are produced.

11. Sexually-Produced Spores Spores are borne on unique and specialized structures, depending on the type of fungus. Produced by Meiosis & Cell Division. Genetically-unique progeny are produced. Sexual Reproduction = combined genetic contributions of two parents. Zygotic Life cycle.

12. Life Cycles MEIOSISFERTILIZATION HAPLOID STAGE (1N) DIPLOID STAGE (2N)

13. Zygotic Life Cycle Meiosis produces spores (mini-zygotes). 1N 2N (Spores) (Gametes here produced by Mitosis)

14. Classification of Fungi

15. Fungi arebroken into 4 lineages (therefore also 4 Phyla): –Phylum: Chytridiomycota –Phylum: Zygomycota –Phylum: Ascomycota –Phylum: Basidiomycota “Phylum”: Deuteromycota is an artificial group representing fungi that do not or have yet to exhibit a sexual stage (meiosis & syngamy).

16. Phylogeny of Fungi Morphological Character state changes

17. Chytridiomycota (chytrids) Swimming Zoospores.

18. FUNGI

19. Zygomycota The “Bread Molds”

20. Zygomycota Zygospore Formation (Suspensors)

21. Zygomycete Life Cycle

22. FUNGI

23. Ascomycota The Sac Fungi Morchella esculenta

24. Ascomycota Ascus (sac) is where the sexual spores (Ascospores) are borne. 8 Ascospores are typical in each ascus.

25. Ascomycete Life Cycle

26. FUNGI

27. Basidiomycota The ‘Club’ Fungi

28. Basidiomycota Sexual Basidiospores borne on a Basidium. 4 spores per Basidium. Basidium Basidiospores

29. Basidiomycete Life Cycle

30. Studying FUNGI Both Macroscopic and Microscopic organisms. Cultures –1-member, 2-member –Growth Media (sing. Medium) Agar, Broth –Petri Plates or Culture Tubes.

31. THINK LIKE A FUNGUS How do I get food? How can I compete? How can I protect myself? What associations with other organisms are important?