Kingdom Fungi

Fungus = an organism in the kingdom Fungi which obtains food by breaking down other substances in the surroundings and absorbing the nutrients

Characteristics of Fungi All are eukaryotic They can’t eat or engulf food –Must live on or next to their food –Secrete digestive juices onto the food source then absorb the dissolved substances –Many are decomposers –Some can be parasitic Domain & Energy needs

Characteristics, cont. Some fungi are single-celled, some are multi-celled Multicellular fungi have chains of cells called hyphae, which grow together into a twisted mass called the mycelium –This is very similar to plant roots Cellular organization

Helpful or Harmful? BOTH! Helpful Yeast is a fungus which helps make bread Fungus helps make cheese Edible mushrooms Penicillin Harmful Some fungi can be parasitic or poisonous

More fungi? Fungi can reproduce both sexually and asexually –Hyphae can break apart and each new piece can become a new fungus –Most reproduce asexually with spores released into the environment

Kinds of Fungi We classify fungi based on their shape and the way it reproduces Four main types are: 1.Threadlike fungi 2.Sac fungi 3.Club fungi 4.Imperfect fungi

1. Threadlike Fungi Molds are shapeless fuzzy fungi Most live in the soil and are decomposers, though some are parasitic Threadlike fungi have hyphae extensions grow in the air and form round cases called sporangia

Mold

1. Threadlike Fungi, cont. When sporangia break open, tiny spores inside are released into the air – (Asexual) When conditions are harsh during a drought or cold weather, two hyphae from different fungi can join to produce sporangia which can survive easier until conditions are right (or rarely Sexual)

2. Sac fungi This is the largest group of fungi Sac fungi get their name from a large sac that produces spores inside They live on the ground or on other organisms. Reproduce asexually or sexually Sac fungi include powdery mildews, truffles, morels, and yeast

Sac Fungi

Sac Fungi - yeast Yeast are a special kind of sac fungi Yeast are single-celled organisms They are the only fungi to reproduce by budding, where a new cell pinches off of an existing cell

Sac Fungi - yeast Yeast is one of the most important ingredients while making bread! Yeasts use sugar as food and produce carbon dioxide as a waste produce – those carbon dioxide bubbles cause the dough to rise.

Sac Fungi Many sac fungi can be parasites and cause plant disease Both chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease are caused by this type of fungus

3. Club fungi Club fungi are the umbrella shaped mushrooms we typically think of! They live on the ground Many have little “gills” on the inside which hold the spores Most are edible, but some are not! Sexual or Asexual (Spores or Budding).

3. Club fungi Most gill fungi we can eat (edible and inedible mushrooms) – we get several in the grocery store.

3. Club fungi Some mushrooms can be poisonous – simply one taste can be deadly! Which mushroom is safe?

3. Club fungi – other examples!

4. Imperfect fungi These are the fungi which don’t fit into the other three groups Most are parasitic and cause diseases in plants and animals We are not all the way sure how these reproduce but asexual has been seen with spores. Some can be useful – penicillin, soda, cheeses, and soy sauce are just some of the uses we have from imperfect fungi!

4. Imperfect fungi - diseases

4. Imperfect fungi

Lichens Lichen = a combination of a fungus and an alga which grows intertwined The algae lives inside the fungus and both need each other to live

Lichens

Lichens are producers – the algae photosynthesizes Lichens need only air, light, and minerals to grow, so they can even grow on rocks! Lichens absorb water and minerals from the air and are easily affected by air pollution.

Exit Ticket Answer all three questions on your paper. 1. How are fungi able to withstand periods of cold or drought? 2. Why are fungi so important? 3. What are the four main groups of fungi?