Kingdom Fungi Characteristics Eukaryotic Heterotrophic Digest food outside

Kingdom Fungi

Characteristics • Eukaryotic • Heterotrophic – Digest food outside of their bodies • Multicellular, except for yeasts (unicellular) • Present all over the world – marine and terrestrial environments • Cell walls contain chitin • Main body composed of hyphae • Reproduction involves sexual and asexual phases

• Most fungi grow as tubular filaments called hyphae. An interwoven mass of hyphae is called a mycelium. • The walls of hyphae are often strengthened with chitin

• Fungi reproduce by releasing spores from a fruiting body. The spore is released into the air and the wind carries it off to start the next generation.

• Composed of mushrooms, molds and yeast

• Mycorrhizae – symbiotic relationships with plants, work as partners – Soil fungi attach themselves onto plant roots – Fungi helps plants absorb more water and nutrients, while plant provides food for fungi

• Use in everyday life: making bread (yeast), antibiotics (ie. Penicillin), eating (mushrooms) • Mushrooms are Fungi!

• Club Fungi – look like umbrellas growing from the ground or like shelves

• Sac Fungi – produce spores in special sacs called asci

• Lichens – union between fungus and algae

• Conjugation Fungi – black bread mold

• Imperfect Fungi – left-overs , penicillin • Penicillin – First antibiotic – Attacks and kills bacteria

• Very good decomposers!

Human Fungus Diseases • Ringworm • Athlete’s foot • Amanita – death cap