Fungi

Characteristics• eukaryotic• multicellular (except yeasts)• heterotrophic by absorption

(saprophytes – feed on dead organic matter)• reproduce sexually & asexually• no locomotion• cell walls made of chitin• classified by sexual reproduction• decomposers

• hyphae – rootlike structures for absorbing nutrients

• mycelium - all the hyphae in a fungus, collectively

Fungal structure

A. Phylum Oomycota

• protist-like fungi• reproduce sexually by oospores• reproduce asexually by sporangia• ex: water molds

B. Phylum Zygomycota

• conjugation fungi• reproduce sexually by conjugation - • + & - mating strains of hyphae fuse to form a

zygospore• reproduce asexually by sporangia• ex: Rhizopus (black bread mold)

Zygomycota life cycle

Rhizopus

C. Phylum Ascomycota

• sac fungi• sexually reproduces by ascospores• asexually reproduces by conidia or budding• ex: Peziza (cup fungus), morels, yeasts

Ascomycota life cycle

Ascomycetes

Yeasts budding

D. Phylum Basidiomycota

• club fungi• sexually reproduces by basidiospores• asexually reproduces by sporangia or not at all• ex: Agaricus (mushroom), puffballs, Amanita (death cap mushroom)

Basidiomycota life cycle

E. Phylum Deuteromycota

• imperfect fungi• no known sexual reproduction• asexually reproduce by conidia• ex: ringworm fungus, athletes’s foot fungus

Symbiotic relationships in fungi:

1) Lichens – fungus & alga living together

2) Mycorrhizae – fungi & tree roots living together

Lichens

Importance of fungi:

Helpful• make antibiotics (penicillin)• used in cheese-making (bleu cheese)• used in baking industry (yeast)• used in alcohol industry (yeast)• used as a food source• decomposers

Importance of fungi:

Harmful:• cause disease in humans• cause disease in crops• cause allergies• spoil food