A fungus is among us!

Fungi: Plural of “fungus”

What are fungi?  Fungi are eukaryotic consumers, but they are so different from other organisms that they are placed in their own kingdom.  They come in a variety of shapes and colors, but all have a similar way of obtaining and producing food

Food for Fungi Bird’s Nest Fungus  Fungi are consumers But they cannot eat of engulf food.  Most fungi obtain nutrients by secreting digestive juices onto a food source, then absorbing the dissolved substance.  Many fungi are decomposers. This means they feed on dead animal or plant matter.

What good are they?  Fungi are decomposers. They are also used in the world of food.  Turn to the person next to you and do your best to describe a world without fungi….go!  You wouldn’t have: Mushrooms on pizza or on other foods There would be no leavened bread (bread that rises) No penicillin (antibiotics) No bleu cheese Huge amount of dead organic matter would collect and probably not go away.

What are Fungi made up of?  Multicellular fungi are made up of chains of cells called Hyphae.  The hyphae grow together to form a twixted mass called the Mycelium which usually grows underground

Mycelium Mycelium on a piece of rotting wood

Fungi Reproduction  Do you know anyone who has allergies to molds?  What environments do mold-sensitive individuals want to stay away from?  Caves  Damp basements  Damp soil  Leaf litter  Other decaying organic matter.

Asexual or Sexual? AsexualSexual Reproduction  In asexual reproduction, the hyphae break off and each new piece becomes a new individual.

Spores  Spores: are small reproductive cells protected by a thick cell wall.  Easily spread by the wind  When special structures form to make sex cells, these cells join to produce sexual spores that grow into a new fungus

Threadlike Fungi Molds  Molds are shapeless fuzzy fungi.  Belong to the group called Threadlike fungi.

Sac Fungi  Sac Fungi form the largest group of fungi. Includes yeast, powdery mildews, truffles, and morels.  Sexual Reproduction in these fungi involves the formation of a sac called ascus.  During their lifecycles, sac fungi usually reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Sac Fungi MorelsWhite Truffle

How are Truffles Found?  With Pigs…of course!

Usefulness to Humans  Yeast: used in making bread Yeast uses sugars as food and produce carbon dioxide gas and alcohol as waste products. Trapped bubbles of Carbon Dioxide cause the dough to rise and make bread light and fluffy.

Club Fungi  The umbrella shaped fungi, also the most commonly known type of fungi are called club fungi.  White Destroying Angel One taste is fatal.

Mushrooms: Not the only club fungi! Bracket fungi: look like shelves on trees. Spores are found on the underside of bracket. This corn is infected with a club fungus called smut

Lichens Jewel Lichen  A Lichen is a combination of fungus and an alga that grow intertwined.  The alga actually grows inside the protective walls of the fungus.  This is called a symbiotic relationship. It is mutually beneficial to both species.

Lichens Fruticose LichenBritish Soldier Lichen