Kingdom Fungi

TEKS 7A, E; 8B, C; 12A, C

Basic Characteristics of Fungi

• Eukaryotic• Multicellular• External Heterotrophs/ Decomposer• Not mobile• Reproduce using SPORES• Have a cell wall made up of chitin.

Evolution of FungiWhich of the following is most closely related to a mushroom (fungus)?WHY?WHY?

Recent DNA-based Recent DNA-based studies studies show that show that fungi are more similar fungi are more similar to animals than to to animals than to plantsplants

Cladogram

Anaerobic Respiration

Some fungi (yeast) are able to release energy from glucose in the absence of oxygen. This anaerobic process is called fermentation.

Glucose Alcohol + CO2 + 2ATP

Basic Structure of a Fungus:

Hyphae are individual filaments that form

a dense cottony mat of called mycelium.

Individual Hyphae

*Mycelium dense mat of

hyphae

This mycelium is decomposing

leaf litter on the forest floor.

In mushrooms, the entire above ground mushroom cap is the

*fruiting body which is the reproductive structure

that contains spores.

Basic Structure of a Mushroom

Fruiting Body:

Most of the fungus lives underground. A Fairy Ring – is a ring of mushrooms along the outer edge of the fungus.

Fungi grow in a circular pattern out from a center point, where one spore landed and started to grow.

World’s Largest organism? Armillaria, a pathogenic fungus shown here afflicting four regions of coniferous forest in Montana, grown out from a central location. The largest patch below is 8 hectares (300 m) in diameter. The largest measure so far has been 15 hectares in diameter.

Four Major Examples of Fungi:

1. Mushrooms

Mushroom Phyla examples: Toadstool (top left), Shelf Fungi (bottom left), Puff Balls (right)

2. Bread Molds

3. Yeast

Budding Scar

4. Penicillin mold produces an antibiotic that destroys bacterial cell walls.

Bacteria Free Zone

Bacteria Smear

Harmful Effects of Fungi

1. Fungal Disease destroys billons of dollars worth of crops each year.

Strawberries with Botrytis mold, a plant parasitic fungus

Pink Ear Rot on Corn Corn Smut

Examples of fungal diseases of plants: Wheat Rust (left), ergots on rye (right)

2. Fungi will spoil food.

Rhizopus - common bread mold

3. Fungal Diseases:

-Athlete's Foot

-Ring Worm

-Yeast Infections

Helpful to Humans• make antibiotics like penicillin

The mold Penicillin is growing in a

circular pattern on this orange.

Penicillin “the antibiotic” is an

extract made from this fungus.

•Some are edible: some mushroom caps, morels, and truffles

Helpful to Humans

Pigs are used to smell

out truffles

•Used in food production:

–Cheeses such as Brie, Blue cheese, Camembert, & Roquefort

–Bread, Beer, & Wine (Yeast)

–Soy sauce

–Tofu

Helpful to HumansBlue Cheese

Bread

Fungi are

also helpful to the Environment!

Fungi are decomposers,

recycling organic matter.

Lichen – has a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and algae.

- Provides food for animals-found in barren soil

- Sensitive to air pollution

Lichen Algal cells live inside the fungus.

Fungus

Fungus

Algae

Mycorrhizae – a symbiotic relationship b/w a fungus and plant roots. Fungal hyphae extend into the soil

and root, helping the plant absorb nutrients.

Plant roots covered with fungal hyphae which increases surface area for absorption.

The last 2 roots on the far right do not have mycorrhizae.

Diseases Caused by Fungi• Potato Blight - Oomycota

Damages leaves of the potato plant Cause of the 1845 famine in Ireland and England

• Wheat Rusts - BasidiomycotaDamages leaves and stems; golden-yellow to red color on leaves and stems Caused problems in early 1900’s & 1930’s; Contributed to the great depression.

• Corn Smuts – BasidiomycotaLarge galls on plant; may occur on any part of plant above ground

Some consider corn smuts a delicacy• Mildews – Zygomycota

15% of crop losses are due to these fungal diseases in the temperate regions of the world

• Ringworm – Deutermycota (tinea)Red itchy skin forming a ring shape

Caused by the same fungus that causes athlete’s foot

• Athlete’s Foot – Deuteromycota (tinea)Red, itchy skin on foot; white, wet

surface

• Thrush – Yeast (Candida albicans)Infection of mouth; whiteUsually kept in check by bacterial competition and immune system; May occur after strong antibiotic treatment; eating yogurt helps

• Urinary tract infections – Yeast (Candida albicans)Itching and burning sensation when urinating

• Nail fungal infections – Various moldsYellowing and thickening of the nailSometimes difficult to treat