KINGDOM FUNGI Characteristics: eukaryotes multicellular, except for yeast (unicellular) cell walls are made of chitin “absorptive” heterotrophs, they do not ingest their food, they secrete digestive enzymes then absorb the nutrients (extracellular digestion) ex: saprophytes – live off dead organisms parasites – live off living organisms

Why are fungi not classified as plants? They are heterotrophs, not autotrophs. They have no chloroplast/chlorophyll. They have no true roots, stems, and leaves.

Types of Fungi: Club Fungi (Basidiomycetes) –mushrooms; forms spores in a structure called basidium Sac Fungi (Ascomycetes) – truffles, mildew; forms spores in a sac called asci; also includes yeast Thread-like Fungi (Zygomycetes)-bread mold; spores found in sporangium Imperfect Fungi ( Deuteromycota) includes Athlete’s foot, ringworm, thrush

Internal Structure of Fungi The bodies of fungi consist of hyphae (long slender strands of cells). A branching network of hyphae is called mycelium.

How do fungi reproduce? Asexually – cells divide to produce spores or a piece of hyphae breaks off and grows into a new fungus Sexually – the hyphae of two different fungi grow close together and the hyphae join together producing a genetically different fungi

Symbiotic Relationships Lichens – symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi Mycorrhizae – symbiotic fungi that inhabit the roots of plants and help supply them with nutrients

Types of Fungi Zygomycetes (Thread-like Fungi) Mushrooms Basidiomycetes (Club Fungi) Bread Mold Yeast Ascomycetes (Sac Fungi)

Fungi Classfication