2. Kingdom Fungi Kingdom Fungi By: Mr. Lowe

3. Important New Vocabulary Hyphae = Mass of many-celled, threadlike tubes forming the body of a fungus. Spores = Waterproof reproductive cell of a fungus. Decomposer = Organism that breaks down decaying organic material and returns it to the soil.

4. Main Characteristics Most fungi share three important characteristics: -Eukaryotes -Use spores to reproduce -Heterotrophs

5. How do fungi obtain food? The fungus grows hyphae into its food source. Digestive chemicals ooze from the hyphae into the food.

6. The digestive chemicals break down the food into small substances that can be absorbed into the hyphae.

7. Fungi Reproduction Asexual – By budding – a small yeast cell grows from the body of a fungus. It eventually breaks away. (Pg 226 in your book.) Sexual -The hyphae of two fungi grow together and genetic material is exchanged. A new structure grows from the joined hyphae.

8. Roles of Fungi Environmental decomposers Food source Cause diseases Fight diseases (Penicillin – powerful antibiotic)

9. Fungi Classification Four groups based on the shape of the spore- producing structures, and ability to reproduce sexually: a. Threadlike - 600 species of molds, produce spores in their hyphae.

10. b. Sac - 30,000 species, produce spores in structures that look like sacks. c. Club - 25,000 species, produce spores in structures that look like clubs

11. Imperfect Fungi – 25,000 species, do not reproduce sexually, Penicullium is in the group.