Basidiomycota Presented By: Jack Blaisdell

Classification Kingdom: Fungi –Subkingdom: Dikarya Phylum: Basidiomycota Under the Phylum Basidiomycota, there are 3 classes –Basidiomycetes- Mushroom and mushroom like organisms –Uredinomycetes- Rusts (Plant Parasites) –Ustomycetes- Bunts (Plant Parasites)

Basidiomycota Contains about 30,000 described species –About 27% of Fungi Most familiar Basidiomycota are Mushrooms Basidiomycota also includes many other organisms including…

Basidiomycota …stinkhorns, polypores, jelly fungi, boletus, chanterelles, earth stars, smuts, and rusts

Basidiomycota In General Difficult to describe It is hard to identify characteristics that are both unique and constant to the entire group Basidiomycota can be both unicellular and multicellular They can reproduce either sexually or asexually They are terrestrial and aquatic The main characteristic used to identify Basidiomycota is the presence of Basidia, which are spore producing structures unique to Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota In General Most Basidiomycota obtain nutrients by decaying dead organic matter –Like wood and leaf litter Decomposers Some Basidiomycota are Biotrophs meaning they gain their nutrients from living cells –Rusts for example are Biotrophs –Form of Parasitism Biotrophs

Spores Spore: a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions Spores are part of the life cycle in bacteria, plants, algae, fungi, and some protozoa's Spores are usually haploid and unicellular and are produced by meiosis in the Basidia Once conditions are favorable, the spore can develop into a new organism producing multicellular, fertile offspring

Basidia The word Basidium literally means “little pedestal” One Basidium usually bears four sexual spores called basidiospores –Occasionally the number can be 2 or even 8 –Each Basidiospore is haploid Each Basidiospore is borne at the tip of a narrow prong called a Sterigna

Basidiomycota Reproduction (Sporadic Reproduction) 1.Basidiospores are created through meiosis 2.The Basidiospores are forcefully ejected and carried by the wind 3.The Basidiospore lands on the ground 4.Mycelia grows from spore to find mate 5.When two Mycelia meet they form a Dikaryotic Mycelium and grow into a new mushroom

Mushrooms Class: Basidiomycetes Order: Agaricales A mushroom is a fleshy, spore bearing, fruiting body of fungus –They typically form on the ground or directly on a food source Mushrooms are primary decomposers There are approx. 14,000 described species of mushrooms Mushrooms often look like umbrellas with a stem reaching from the ground. A Mushroom – The Amanita Muscaria also known as the “fly agaric” (Poisonous)

Mushroom Structure From the ground up –Mycelium- root like structures for support and absorbing nutrients –Stalk- Elevates the Basidiocarp –Basidiocarp- or cap, or stipe, or pileus, the “fruit body” of the mushroom –Gills- Underneath cap, location of Basidia, Instead of gills there may be ridges, pores or teeth

Absorbing Food (Mycelium) Mycelium is made up of hyphae Absorbing nutrients takes place in a two step process –First, the Mycelium secrete enzymes into the food source, which break it down –Once broken down they are absorbed through facilitated diffusion and active transport –Simple!

Spore Prints Spore Print –If a mushroom is plucked and left upside down, it will accumulate a visible pile of spores over its gills, this is called a spore print Spore Prints vary in color Spore Prints help to identify mushrooms

Mushroom Toxins Produce secondary metabolite –organic compound that is not directly involved in the normal growth, development, or reproduction of organisms –Most likely function is to protect the stem and cap –Toxin can be… Toxic, sickness or death Mind-altering, ex. “Psilocybin mushrooms” aka “Shrooms” Antibiotic Antiviral Bioluminescent, aid in spore dispersal, such as a bee and flower –71 species known to have Bioluminescence

Rusts Class: Urediniomycetes Order: Uredinales Rusts are multicellular They are plant parasites Rusts reproduce asexually Rusts are named because during the spore stage they resemble the corrosion rust Rusts are not the same as the corrosion of metal In most cases one species of rust can only infect one species of plant –Useful in biological control

Infection When a rust particle lands on a plant it first needs to attach itself to it or it will get washed off –The rust spore produces hydrophobic mucilaginous which will stick the spore to the plant The spore then must penetrate the plant surface, usually through the stomata of the plant –To do this it will send out tubes called germ tubes, a form of Mycelium, that will locate a stomata and enter it Once the tube is inside of the epidermis, a Haustoria Mother Cell develops on the cell wall of a plant cell. Then a Haustoria pushes its way into the plant cell where it steals nutrients from it until it is ready to sporulate

Rust Reproduction Asexual Spore generating structures called uredinia –Uredinia ruptures the epidermis and begin releasing spores

Smuts Class: Ustomycetes Order: Ustilaginales Smuts are multicellular They cause disease in plants –The Corn Smut for example Reproduce asexually

Smuts Smuts are like viruses –They attack the plants reproductive system Entering usually through the Ovaries –They feed off of the plants fruit –They form Galls  Tumor like growths that contain spores –Darken and Burst –Releasing more spores that infect other plants

Smuts in Mexico In Mexico Corn infected with Smuts are a delicacy –Sell for higher price than corn The Smut infected corn is harvested while the gall is immature The Gall is filled with tasty spores Yummy!!

Works Cited lly_Fungi.htm stomycetes/Ustomycetes.htm asidiomycetes.htm