Fungi Chapter 22

What are Fungi? Fungi have threadlike bodies which are made of long, slender filaments Fungi have cell walls made of chitin  Chitin – A tough carbohydrate found in the cell walls of fungi and other organisms Heterotrophic organisms

Structure Hyphae – a filament of a fungus Mycelium – the mass of fungal filaments Rhizoid – a rootlike structure that holds fungi in place and absorbs nutrients Hyphae

Reproduction Sexual Reproduction  Hyphae from one fungus fuse with hyphae from a fungus of the opposite mating type producing a zygospore

Reproduction Asexual Reproduction  At the tips of stalks, haploid spores are produced by mitosis

Reproduction Sporangium produces spores Stolon – a horizontal hypha from which rhizoids and sporangiospores arise Spores Hypha

Reproduction Yeast and mold refer to specific stages of the life cycle that are shared by several types of fungi Yeast and mold are not classes of fungi  Yeast – some fungi exist primarily in a unicellular stage  Mold – refers to the asexual stage of some fungi

Fungal Partnerships Lichen – a fungus in a symbiotic relationship with a photosynthetic partner  Some partners are cyanobacterium and green alga

Fungi and Industry Fungi are used for food, medicines, research, alternative fuels, and pest control Penicillium Blue cheeseBread (Yeast)

Fungi and the Ecosystem Fungi decompose organic matter Fungi break down and absorb minerals from rocks and soil

Fungal Infections Some fungi are parasites

Fungal Infections Dermatophyte – a fungus that infects the skin, hair or nails  They cause athlete's foot, toenail fungus, and ringworm Toenail fungus

Fungal Toxins Toxins in mushrooms can cause vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage, and even death