KINGDOM FUNGI

CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI - Eukaryotic - Heterotrophic - Most are multicellular - Unicellular, yeast

MAJOR FEATURES Cell walls composed of chitin: a strong flexible polysacchride Hyphae are the basic structural filament units that make up the body of multicellular fungi Mycelium is a netlike mass of hyphae found below ground Fruiting Body is the reproductive structure found above ground Septa are the cross walls that divide the hyphae into cells, these allow nutrients, cytoplasm, organelles, and nuclei to flow between cells

HYPHAE MYCELIUM

Nutrition in Fungi Saprophytic Fungi Saprobe is an organism that feeds on dead organisms or organic wastes Decomposers and recycle nutrients back into the food web

Nutrition in Fungi Parasitic Fungi Absorb nutrients from living cells or another organism called a host Produce hyphae called haustoria which grow into the host tissue Arthrobotrys are parasitic soil fungi that trap prey with rings of hyphae

Nutrition in Fungi Mutualistic Fungi Live in combination with another organism for the benefit of both organisms Plant or algae Mycelia covers the roots of the soybean plant and absorbs sugar from the plant and increases water uptake and mineral absorption for the host plant

Reproduction Budding Asexual Resproduction Yeast cell New cell develops attached to parent cell then pinches off

Reproduction Fragmentation Occurs when the mycelium of a fungus is physically broken If the broken fragment lands in a location suitable for growing hyphae will grow into new mycelia

Reproduction Spore Production Most fungi able to reproduce sexually and asexually by producing spores Spores a haploid reproductive cell with a hard outer coat Spores develop into new organism without the fusion of gametes Spore generates haploid hyphae and fuse with hyphae of another to become diploid Diploid produce fruiting bodies that will produce zygotes that go through meiosis to produce haploid spores

Adaptations for Survival Produces large quantities of spores, small and light weight Spores protected by a cell wall, tough and water proof Sporophores are the fruiting bodies of a spore-forming fungus Sporangium is a sac or case in which spores are produced, provide protection