Fungus Unit 6 Chapter 20

Fungus characteristics Found everywhere Variety of colors and appearances Grows best in moist, warm environments Chitin cell walls

Fungus characteristics Mostly multicellular, some unicellular (yeast) Hyphae: long strands that make up the fungus body Mycelium: cluster of hyphae

The structure of fungi Spore Germinating Spore Food Source Mycelium

Hyphae up-close Cells divided to separate nucleus Cells fused together with nucleus all together

Hyphae functions Produce spores Anchor the fungus Reproduction Absorb a food source: secretes enzymes that break down food so nutrients are easily absorbed

How fungus absorbs food Chemicals released by hyphae digest dead materials. Hyphae absorb the digested food.

Fungus structure video Click on image to play video.

Harmful fungus Spoils food (molds) Causes diseases and illnesses (athlete’s foot, ringworm) Destroys crops

Helpful fungus Decomposes waste matter and returns nutrients back to the soil

Fungal relationships Saprophtye: breaks down decaying matter for nutrient absorption Parasitic: relationship where the host is harmed but the fungus benefits Mutualistic: relationship with another organism, where both benefits (ex: lichen)

Parasitic fungus: extends hyphae into host cells to active absorb nutrients

How fungi reproduce Fragmentation: parts break off and grow Budding: fungi growing from mature body and then breaks off Spores: structures that are produced, released, and germinated into mature forms Yeast budding

Spores germinating

Major groups of fungi Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota Deuteromycota Mycorrhizae Lichen

Zygomycota: common bread mold

Ascomycota: morels and truffels

Ascomycota: yeasts Undergo alcohol fermentation so are often used to produce alcoholic drinks Also used in baking to make bread rise Commonly used in bioengineering to produce vaccines

Basidiomycota: mushrooms Cap Hyphae Spores Gill

Deuteromycota Fungus that only reproduces asexually Used to produce blue cheeses, soy sauce, and penicillin

Mycorrhizae: mutualism Fungus that grows from the tips of plant roots Fungus absorbs water and minerals for plants. Plant produces sugars for fungus.

Lady slipper orchid cannot survive within mycorrhizae relationships.

Lichen Mutualistic relationship between fungus and algae Fungus provides hospitable environment for the algae. Algae produces sugars for the fungus.