Kingdom Fungi

Outline Protists versus Fungi Phylum Chytridomycota Phylum Zygomycota Phylum Ascomycota Phylum Basidiomycota Phylum Deuteromycota Lichens

Distinctions Between Protista and Fungi All true fungi are filamentous or unicellular heterotrophs, most of which absorb their food in solution through cell walls. Members of Kingdom Fungi are placed in five phyla.  With the exception of some chytrids and all yeasts, all are filamentous.  Most lack motile cells.

Kingdom Fungi Phylum Chytridomycota (The Chytrids)  Simple, mostly one-celled organisms.  Some parasitize pollen grains, and other are saprobic.  Many reproduce only asexually through the production of zoospores within a spherical cell.

Kingdom Fungi Phylum Zygomycota (Coenocytic True Fungi)  Black bread molds are the best-known members of this phylum. - Rhizopus is a well-known representative.  Human and Ecological Relevance - A few species used as food sources. - Industrial Uses  Pharmaceuticals  Pigments

Kingdom Fungi Phylum Ascomycota (Sac Fungi) Truffles are reproductive bodies of representatives of the phylum ascomycetes.  Most produce mycelia with hyphae partitioned into individual cylindrical cells.  Asexual Reproduction - By means of spores produced outside of a sporangium (conidia) on conidiophores. - Yeasts - Budding Sexual Reproduction

Phylum Ascomycota Human and Ecological Relevance  Truffles have been prized for centuries.  Ergot fungus may infect rye and other grains. - Ergotism may occur in those who eat the contaminated bread. - Ergot drugs are medicinally useful in small amounts.  Initial source for the manufacture of LSD.

Phylum Ascomycota Human and Ecological Relevance  Yeast enzymes aid in preparation of baked goods. - Fermentation  Yeasts used in production of glycerol. - Explosives  Plant Diseases - Dutch Elm Disease - Chestnut Blight

Phylum Basidiomycota The Basidiomycetes (Club Fungi)  In sexual reproduction, spores are produced at the tips of swollen hyphae that often resemble small clubs (basidia). - Mushrooms, Puffballs, Earth Stars  Asexual Reproduction - Infrequent  Mainly through conidia.

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Sexual Reproduction in Basidiomycota

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Sexual Reproduction in Basidiomycota  Fairy Rings  Boletes Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display

Sexual Reproduction in Basidiomycota  Shelf Fungi  Bird’s Nest Fungi Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display

Sexual Reproduction in Basidiomycota  Smuts  Rusts Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display

Phylum Basidiomycota Human and Ecological Relevance  Poisonous - Fewer than 75 of the approximately 25,000 described species are poisonous.  Shiitake Mushrooms - High in protein, calcium, phosphorous, and iron. - Lentinacin and other pharmaceutical extracts.  Nutrient Recycling

Phylum Deuteromycota The Deuteromycetes (Imperfect Fungi)  Fungi for which a sexual stage has not been observed. - Groped together in an artificial phylum.  All reproduce by conidia. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display

Phylum Deuteromycota Human and Ecological Relevance  Penicillium Molds - Antibiotics - Gourmet Cheese  Aspergillus - Citric Acid - Soy Sauce - Aspergilloses (Respiratory Disease) - Aflotoxin (Carcinogen) Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display

Lichens Consists of a fungus and an alga intimately associated in a spongy thallus.  Photosynthetic component supplies the food while the fungus protects the photosynthetic organisms from harmful light intensities and absorbs and retains water and minerals. - Three genera of green algae and one genus of cyanobacterium are involved in 90% of all lichen species.

Lichens Lichen species are identified according to their fungus. Grow very slowly, and are capable of living extremely long periods of time.  Gelatinous substance in thallus allows them to withstand alternating wet and dry periods.

Lichens Usually consist of three or four layers:  Upper Cortex - Protective layer  Algal Layer - Contain algal cells.  Medulla - Hyphae  Lower Cortex - Covered with Rhizines.

Lichens Usually grouped into three major growth forms:  Crustose - Attached to or embedded in their substrate over their entire lower surface.  Foliose - Contain leaf-like thalli which often overlap.  Fruticose - May resemble miniature upright shrubs, or hang down in festoons from branches.

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Lichens Fungal component of a lichen usually reproduces sexually, but lichens are naturally dispersed in nature asexually. Sexual reproduction in lichens is similar to that of the sac fungi except ascomata produce spores continuously for many years.

Lichens Human and Ecological Relevance  Exceptionally sensitive to pollution. - Sulfur Dioxide - Nuclear Radiation  Degradation of historic structures.  Food Supplements  Antibiotic Properties

Review Protists versus Fungi Phylum Chytridomycota Phylum Zygomycota Phylum Ascomycota Phylum Basidiomycota Phylum Deuteromycota Lichens

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