1. Give me one example of a fungus.
Today’s Bellringer:
Give me one example of a fungus.

2. My Favorite Food: Mushrooms
Kingdom Fungi
My Favorite Food: Mushrooms

3. What Are Fungi? Fungi: They also:
Are eukaryotes (have an organized nucleus)
Have cell walls
Are heterotrophs
Use spores to reproduce
They also:
Need moist warm places to grow
DO NOT MOVE

4. What Are Fungi? Cell Structure
Can be unicellular or multicellular
Most cells of fungi (except for yeast) are arranged in structures called hyphae.
Hyphae- the branching, threadlike tubes that make up the bodies of multicellular fungi
Fungi appearance depends on how hyphae are arranged
Fuzzy-looking molds: loose hyphae
Mushroom caps: tight hyphae

5. Cap
Gills
Stalk
Hyphae
Underground hyphae

6. What Are Fungi? Obtaining Food
Absorb food through hyphae that grow into a food source
1. Fungus grows into the food source
2. Digestive chemicals ooze from hyphae into food
3. Chemicals break down the food into small substances to be absorbed by hyphae

7. Reproduction in Fungi Most reproduce by making spores
Lightweight spores are surrounded by a protective covering and can be carried easily though air or water to new sites
Fruiting Bodies: reproductive structure where spores are produced
Vary in appearance in all fungi

8. Reproduction Asexual Most fungi reproduce sexually and asexually.
Asexual- if there is adequate moisture
Cells at the tips of hyphae divide to form spores
Spores grow into fungi genetically identical to parent

9. Asexual Reproduction cont’d (Budding)
Asexual reproduction in yeast cells is called budding.
During this process, NO spores are produced.
Small yeast cell grows from body of large, well-fed parent cell in a way similar to the bud forming on the branch of a tree.
New cell breaks away and lives on its own.

10. Sexual Reproduction Most fungi can also reproduce sexually
Done when growing conditions become unfavorable
Hyphae of 2 fungi grow together
Genetic material is exchanged
New reproductive structure grows from the joined hyphae and produces spores
Spores develop into fungi that differ genetically from parents

11. Classification of Fungi
3 major groups:
Sac fungi- produce spores in sac-like structures.
Include yeast, morels, and truffels
Club fungi- produce spores in clublike structures.
Include mushrooms, rusts, puffballs
Zygote Fungi- produce very resistant spores
Includes fruit and bread molds

13. The Role of Fungi in Nature
Fungi can be:
Food for many people
Decomposers and recyclers on Earth
Disease causing
Used to fight diseases
Found living in symbiosis with other organisms

14. Food and Fungi Yeasts- used in bread making and baking
Molds- used to make cheeses
Mushrooms- my favorite!!!
Morel, button, portabella,
Never pick and eat wild mushrooms, they may be poisonous

15. Environmental Recycling
Fungi are decomposers
Live in soil and break down chemicals in dead plant matter
Returns nutrients to soil
Imagine a world without decomposers……..YUCK!!!!!

16. Disease-fighting Fungi
Alexander Fleming- discovered Penicillium mold in 1928
Produced first antibiotic of penicillin
Since then, many antibiotics have been formed by molds and fungi
Thank you Mr. Fleming!!
Here is a website to visit for further info on Fleming and penicillin

17. Disease-causing Fungi
Parasites that cause serious disease in plants
Sac fungus causes Dutch elm disease
Club fungus cause corn smut and wheat rust
Some cause disease in humans
Athlete’s foot fungus- irritation between toes
Ringworm- itchy circular rash on skin
Can easily spread from person to person
Treated with antifungal medicines
Here is a website that tells more about disease causing fungi if you are interested

18. Fungus-Plant Root Associations
Some fungi’s hyphae helps plants grow larger and healthier
Hyphae spread out underground and absorb water/nutrients for plant
Known as a mutualistic relationship

19. Lichens
Lichen: consists of fungus and either algae or autotrophic bacteria that live together in a mutualistic relationship
Fungi get:
food
Algae/bacteria get:
Shelter, water, and minerals.
Some plants cannot live without their fungal partner!! Anyone heard of independence?!

20. Lichens cont’d Called “pioneer” organisms Very sensitive to pollutants
first appear on the bare rocks after a volcanic eruption, fire, or rock slide
Lichens break down the rock into soil so other organisms can grow
Very sensitive to pollutants
Die when pollution levels rise
Used to assess air quality in an area