FUNGI FUNGI Mostly multicellular but can be unicellular

FUNGI!

FUNGI!! • Mostly multi-cellular, but can be unicellular • Can not move • Heterotrophs – Decomposers; absorb nutrients

Fungus Structure Hyphae Septa Mycellium • Hyphae: thread-like filaments that develop spores • Septa: cross walls that divide hyphae into individual cells • Mycellium: the network of branched hyphae

Fungus Structure • Mycellium is made of different kinds of hyphae – 3 main functions • Anchor fungus • Invade food source • Form reproductive structures • Cell walls made of Chitin – Provides strength and flexibility to each fungal cell

Obtaining Energy • Heterotrophic Decomposers – Process used to digest food: Extracellular digestion – Hyphae grow into cells of organic material and release digestive enzymes that break down material and sent it thorough hyphae into the fungus

Types of Fungi: Zygomycote • Bread Molds • Food Molds

Types of Fungi: Basidiomycotes • More Familiar • Mushrooms, puffballs, stink holes, and nest fungus

Types of Fungi: Ascomycote • Largest division • Sac Fungus-small sacs of fungus • Used in genetic research, bread and alcohol production • Examples: yeast

Types of Fungi: Deuteromycotes • Used in vaccines: penicillin, antibiotics • Examples: Penicillium

Types of Fungi: Chytridiomycotes • Aquatic fungi that provide clues about the evolution of fungi • Once classified as protists because they have a flagella • Mainly saprophytes, but some are parasites • One of the reasons for the decline of amphibians

Types of Fungi: Glomeromycota • Form symbiotic relationships with plants • Forms a mycorrhiza, symbiotic relationship between the fungus and plant roots • Reproduce asexually with spores

Fungal Reproduction • Sexual or asexual, depending on species and environmental conditions • Three methods: – Fragmentation: Asexual – Budding: Asexual – Spore Formation: Asexual OR Sexual

Fungal Reproduction • Fragmentation – Multicellular. Pieces of hyphae are broken off and grow into new mycelia. Ex: Deuteromycotes • Budding – Unicellular. After mitosis, new cell “buds” from the original. Ex: Zygomycotes • Spore Formation – Multicellular. Spores produced in a sporangium. Once spore is in a favorable environment where new mycellium is formed. Ex: Basidiomycotes, Ascomycotes, Zygomycotes

Symbiosis In Fungus • Mutualism: Fungus and photosynthetic partner – Lichens: Fungus and Green Algae • Parasitism: Absorb nutrients from living things with special hyphae that help absorb the host’s nutrients • Saprophytes: Decomposers; feed on dead waste