Kingdom Fungi Effects of Fungi in the Biosphere

Kingdom Fungi

Effects of Fungi in the Biosphere • Decomposition – recycle nutrients • Often have symbiotic relationships with other organisms - Lichens

CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI • Cell wall made of chitin - that’s a polysaccharide (poly-many, saccharidesugar) like in insect exoskeletons • Some unicellular – like yeast • Some multicellular – like mushrooms and molds

Most fungi are made up of hyphae – long branch of fungus.

All Fungi are Heterotrophs (can’t make their own food) • Give off digestive enzymes from hyphae • Absorb nutrients after they have been broken down into smaller nutrients.

Many Fungi are Saprophytes (Live Off of Dead Bodies) • • Decomposers. Get nutrients from dead organisms. Compete with us for food. When your leftovers get moldy, the fungi are just doing their job – decaying already dead food matter.

Some Fungi need living hosts • Parasites – Athlete’s foot – Corn smut • Mutualistic partners – Both benefit • Predators – Trap and kill prey

SOME FUNGI REPRODUCE SEXUALLY • Two hyphae fuse (+) and (-) • Form a zygospore • This will grow into a sporangium which then releases spores.

Fungi Spore Sacs Spores are the reproductive cells of fungi

FUNGI ARE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO HOW THEY MAKE THEIR SPORES • Club fungi – mushrooms and puffballs – Produce spores in clubs within gills

• Sac fungi – produce spores in little sacs – Includes yeasts, powdery mildews, fungi in most lichens, and morels

• Imperfect fungi – Reproduce only asexually – Includes athlete’s foot and ringworm

Some produce plant diseases Rusts Rose mildew

Mushroom B o d y P a r t s CAP Contains GILLS (Where spores are made) ANNULUS STIPE MYCELIUM Vegetative body of the organism

SPORES CAP REPRODUCTIVE BODY SPORE GERMINATION MYCELIUM

YEAST • Contain cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, large vacuole, and membranebound organelles. • Reproduce asexually by budding. • Used to make bread rise and produce alcohol.

Common Bread Mold SPORANGIUM STOLON SPORES RHIZOIDS SPORANGIOPHORE

Foods • We eat some of them raw and cooked……. . • Yeasts • Flavor cheeses………. .

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