Fungus Chapter 2 Lesson 4

Characteristics Heterotrophs Cell Structure Secrete digestive juices into food supply, digest the food, and then absorb Feed on dead organisms, or act as parasites feeding off live organisms Cell Structure Eukaryotic Hyphae – branching, threadlike tubes that make up the body of the organism Cell walls – made of chitin

Characteristics continued… Reproduction Asexually Produce spores in fruiting bodies (ex. Mushroom) Budding occurs when a small yeast cell grows from the body of the parent cell and then breaks away Sexual Hyphae of two fungi grow together & exchange genetic information

Fungi’s Role in Nature Decomposers & Recyclers Food Disease Fighting Break down chemicals in dead organisms and return those nutrients to the soil Food Yeast helps us make bread, mushrooms, alcohol Disease Fighting Penicillin – the first, but not only, antibiotic gleaned from fungi Disease Causing Common parasites causing disease in plants/crops Athletes foot Ringworm

Fungi & Nature continued… Fungi-Plant Can help plants grow when their hyphae grow on or in the plant root The hyphae absorb water & nutrients for the plant and the fungi receives food from the plant (symbiosis) Lichens Combination of algae & fungi living together to the benefit of both organisms