1. The Study of Fungi is called Mycology
Kingdom Fungi
The Study of Fungi is called Mycology
What is probably the largest living organism on earth has been discovered in the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. A fungus living three feet underground is estimated to cover 2,200 acres. After testing samples from various locations, scientists say it is all one organism. Officially known as Armillaria ostoyae, or the honey mushroom, the fungus is 3.5 miles across and takes up 1,665 football fields. The small mushrooms visible above ground are only the tip of the iceberg.
Experts estimate that the giant mushroom is at least 2,400 years old, but could be 7,200 years old.

2. Members of the Kingdom Fungi are:
Multicellular, except for Yeasts which are single-cellular
Are all Eukaryotes
Are All Heterotrophs.. “Absorptive Feeders”
Most have cell walls made of Chitin (sugar)
Most are sedentary ..(they don’t move around, they live their lives anchored somewhere)

3. Foods are digested using enzymes.
Fungi are “Exofeeders” … they digest their foods externally before they ingest (absorb) the digested nutrients through their cell walls.
Foods are digested using enzymes.

4. Fungi live and grow in their food….. Fungi can
Facts
Fungi live and grow in their food….. Fungi can
only be seen when their fruiting bodies emerge…. By then it’s too late!

5. Facts
Cell Walls are either partial or absent………. The cytosol is circulated through simple cyclosis.

6. Ecological Role Fungi are the great recyclers ….
The major role of Fungi is as Decomposers
Fungi are the great recyclers ….
They are Saprophytes…they feed on organic compounds that they absorb from dead organisms in the environment.

7. Fairy Rings

8. The Life Cycle of a Fungi
Spores Hypha Mycelium Fruiting Body
(haploid reproductive cell) (a single filament) (a mass of hyphae)
(reproductive and dispersion of spores)

9. Fungi begins as a Spore. Spores are single, haploid (n) reproductive cells.

10. A Spore germinates and develops a Hypha.
Nutrient
Hypha/Filament

11. The cell walls of Fungi are made of Chitin.
(Chitin is made up of sugars… the same substance which makes up the exoskeleton of insects.)
Cell Wall

12. Some fungi have cross walls, or septa, which divide the hyphae into individual cells each having a single nucleus.
Septum (sng.)

13. Some cells lack septa and are multi-nucleated, or coenocytic (have many nuclei).

14. The Hyphae branches as it digests its way through the food.

15. A Mass of Hyphae forms the Mycelium
Mycelium located at the base of Mushroom stalks.
Mycelium in soil and leaf litter.

16. The Mycelium growth in a Petri Dish

17. What looks like dust is actually spores being released.
When conditions dictate the Mycelium develops into a Fruiting Body which produces Spores.
What looks like dust is actually spores being released.

18. Fossil records show they first appeared about 460 MYA.
Evolution
Fungi arose through Endosymbiosis from early prokaryotes.
Fossil records show they first appeared about 460 MYA.

19. *** Sexual Reproduction occurs through Conjugation.
Fungi Reproduction
Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually
3 Types of Asexual reproduction
1. fragmentation: the breaking up of hypha
2. budding: the pinching off of a small hypha outgrowth
3. asexual spores: dispersing haploid (n) reproductive cells
*** Sexual Reproduction occurs through Conjugation.
Conjugation is the process by which two organisms exchange or join their DNA.

20. Classification of Fungi mostly classified by the shape of the “Fruiting Bodies” The “Fruiting Bodies” are the reproductive structures.
Phylum Zygomycota (molds, bread mold, etc..)
Phylum Basidiomycota
(mushrooms, puff balls, bracket fungi)
Phylum Ascomycota (cup fungi, yeast)
Phylum Deuteromycota (Imperfect fungi)

21. Phylum Zygomycota (The Molds)
Bread Mold 1000 x

22. A nice bowl of mold…The Zygomycetes

23. Want an orange ? The Zygomycetes do!!

24. Asexual Reproduction of Bread Mold
Zygosporangia:
Produces the
sporangiospores
Sporangiophore:
Holds up the
sporangium

25. Asexual Reproduction

26. Fungal Conjugation (Sexual Reproduction)

27. Phylum Basidiomycota “Club Fungi”
Mushrooms
Puffballs
Shelf (Bracket) Fungi
Underground mycelia grow upward to produce a reproductive structure called a basidiocarp. This basidiocarp is what we call a mushroom.
Basidiospores are produced on the basidia, reproductive structures, which are found on the edges of the gills.

28. Structures of a Mushroom
Fruiting Body
Cap
Gills made up of Basidia ….Which produce the Basidiospores.
Stalk: Holds the Cap above the ground…. Aids in spore dispersion.
Mycelium (hyphae) and soil

29. The Basidia “clubs” produce the spores (basdiospores)
Basidiospores
Gills: made up of basisdia
Basidium

30. Various Types of Basidiomycetes

31. Agaricus (gills) Amanita phalloides “Death Cap”

33. Boletes: tubes instead of gills

34. Chanterelles: vase-shaped

35. Morels

36. Puff Balls

37. Shelf, or Bracket Fungi
Common Name: Turkey Tails

38. Phylum Ascomycota “Cup Fungi”
Yeast
Mildews
The largest group of fungi
Named for the reproductive cups or Asci. Ascospores are formed here and released into the air when the asci rupture. These spores germinate to form new hyphae.

39. Yeasts (Saccharomyces) 400X Unicellular Fungi used to Genetically engineer Vaccines
Yeasts reproduce by “Budding”. Budding is an Asexual form of reproduction.
Buds
Yeast Cell
Bud
Yeast Cell

40. Yeast cell Budding 1000X (asexual reproduction)
Yeast Cell and bud
Budding Continues
2 Resulting Yeast Cells

41. Cup Fungi - Ascocarps

42. Asexual Spores
When magnified the insides of the cups are made of thousands of tubes, each tube is called an ascus… the ascospores form inside the asci (tubes).
ascus
ascospores
Asci: inner lining of the cup.

43. Cup Fungi: Bird’s Nest
Spore Packets

44. Phylum Deuteromycota “Imperfect Fungi” Athlete’s Foot Ringworm
Penicillium
Called “imperfect” because a sexual reproductive stage has not been observed.

45. Penicillium: source of penicillin notice the shape of the fungus… a disc

46. Athlete’s Foot

47. Athlete’s Foot

48. Ringworm

49. Ringworm

50. Many Fungi are involved in Mycorhizzae relationships…Over 90% of plants have fungi living near or on with their root systems. The Fungi absorb and concentrate minerals, and nitrogen, for the plant roots. In return, the fungus receives sugars synthesized by the plant.
lack septa
don’t produce zygospores

51. Common Industrial Uses for Fungi
Used to make Antibiotics…Penicillium mold used to produce Penicillin
Yeast used in Baking
Yeasts used in Genetic Engineering
Used a Foods
Used to Detoxify water and soils
Used to make Gasohol.

52. The Wrong Fungi can Kill You!! WHY?
They can infect internal organs… such as your liver, kidneys, lungs, etc….
They can contain potent toxins!
They can induce lethal allergic reactions!
Very Few are Edible…and they are very hard to identify!!
Their SPORES alone can kill you!

53. A mutualism consists between the fungi and the photosynthetic algae.
Lichen
A mutualism consists between the fungi and the photosynthetic algae.
The algae provides food, the fungus provides the physical environment by trapping water and giving the algae a place to live.
The chemical decomposition of rocks by lichens contributes to the production of soils.

54. Lichen has 3 stages of growth
1. Crustose
2. Foliose
3. Fruticose

55. Crustose…looks like crust

56. Foliose… leafy appearance

57. Fruticose…. Shrub-like

58. The Fungal Fruiting Bodies in Lichen

59. The End