1. Kingdom Fungi
3.1
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Not sure what type of microscopic fungi this is…looks like an image of hyphae.

2. What are Fungi? Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus
Clockwise from top left:Amanita muscaria, a basidiomycete;Sarcoscypha coccinea, an ascomycete;bread covered in mold;a chytrid;an Aspergillus conidiophore.

3. Fungi & Plants multicellular eukaryotes mostly sessile
many grow in the ground
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4. Image from: http://sharon-taxonomy2009-p3.wikispaces.com/Protista
Shows that Fungi are more closely related to animals, not plants.

5. Characteristics of Most Fungi
mycelium (branched network of hyphae) forms the body of the fungus, usually below ground; cell walls with chitin
reproductive structures are usually above ground
All fungi are heterotrophic.

6. Diversity of Fungi 5 major phyla including:
chytrids which have swimming spores
zygomycetes which include bread & fruit moulds
glomeromycetes which all form symbiotic relationships with plants
etc…

7. Life Cycles
some are complicated, with stages of sexual & asexual reproduction
basidiomycetes (such as mushrooms) sometimes have dikaryotic cells with 2 nuclei
yeast (an ascomycete) reproduces by budding

8. Benefits of Fungi decomposers like bacteria
important symbiotic relationships with plants
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9. Lichens fungi + cyanobacteria or green algae
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10. Mycorrhiza fungal mycelium grows around or within root cells of plant
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11. Leaf-Cutter Ants ants clean and chew leaves to feed fungus
ant eats fungus
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12. More benefits… edible mushrooms, truffles
used to make soy sauce, bread, blue cheese
production of alcoholic beverages & some drugs
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Drugs like penicillin (antibiotic), cyclosporine (for organ transplants)

13. Harmful Fungi
fungal animal diseases (athlete’s foot, ringworm, aspergillosis, etc.)
fungal plant diseases (apple scab, etc.)
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