Fungi
l First fungi were probably flagellated. –First fossils – 480 million years ago (Ordovician Period) –Molecular Clock suggests 1 billion years ago (Precambrian).
General Characteristics l Primarily terrestrial l Filamentous –hyphae u coenocytic u septate –mycelium –haustoria
Fungal Hyphae
General Characteristics (animal-like) l Heterotrophic –absorption (saprobes) –parasitic –mutualistic l Cell Wall: Chitin l Store sugar as glycogen
Fungal Reproduction l Asexual –haploid spores (conidia/sporangia) l Sexual –plasmogamy (dikaryon) –karyogamy (diploid) –Syngamy (diploid)
Fungal Classification
Division: Chytrids l Have flagella l Coenocytic hyphae or unicellular l Cell wall: chitin l Saprobes or parasites l May be most primitive fungi
Division: Zygomycetes
Division: Zygomycota l Coenocytic Fungi l Mostly terrestrial (live on decaying material l Example: Rhizopus (Black bread mold) l Uses: birth control pills, meat tenderizers, margarine coloring
Division: Glomeromycetes l Arbuscular mycorrhizae –Coenocytic Fungi –Mutualistic - associated with plant roots –increases surface area for the absorption of water and nutrients
Division: Ascomycetes
Diviison: Ascomycetes l Septate fungi (sac fungi) l Saprobes, mutualistic l Examples: Dutch Elm Disease, yeasts, truffles, some molds l Uses: pathogens, food, cooking
Division: Ascomycetes (Deuteromycota) l Imperfect fungi (no sexual cycle) l Examples: Penicillium, Aspergillus, Predatory fungi
Division: Basidiomycetes
l Septate Fungi (Club fungi) l Saprobes, parasites, mutualistic l Examples: mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, shelf fungi, rusts, smuts l Uses: Food
Division: Basidiomycota l Fairy Rings
Lichen l Mutualistic - association with a green algae or cyanobacteria and an ascomycota or basidiomycota l Pioneer organisms
Microsporidia l Are they Fungi? –Parasitic u Loss of organelles u Tiny organelles derived from mitochondria –Cause disease in people with immune deficiency –Used as pest control
Ecological Impacts l Decomposers l Pathogens l Food Production