1. Chapter 20:
The Fungi

2. Most Fungi have Filamentous Bodies:
Chapter 20: Fungi
Most Fungi have Filamentous Bodies:
Mycelium: Interwoven mass of threadlike filaments (hyphae)
Septa: Partitions separating elongated cells of hyphae
(Figure 20.1)
Contain cell walls composed of chitin
Mushroom: Reproductive structure of certain fungi

3. Fungi Obtain Nutrients from Other Organisms (Heterotrophs):
Chapter 20: Fungi
Fungi Obtain Nutrients from Other Organisms (Heterotrophs):
Saprobes: Obtain nutrients from dead organisms (decomposers)
Parasites; symbionts; predators
Digestion / Absorption occurs outside the body
Fungi Reproduce both Sexually & Asexually:
1) Asexual (normal conditions):
Mycelium breaks off pieces
Spores: Tiny, lightweight reproductive packages
Haploid (single copy of each chromosome)
2) Sexual (stressful conditions):
Hyphae fuse: exchange genetic material
Release spores (mixed DNA)
Fungi Classified Based on Sexual Structures

4. 1) Chytrids (Chytrodiomycota) Classification of Fungi:
Chapter 20: Fungi
1) Chytrids (Chytrodiomycota)
Classification of Fungi:
Aquatic; produce swimming spores
Ancient group
Saprobic, parasitic
2) Zygote Fungi (Zygomycota)
Inhabit soils & decaying plants / animals (e.g. bread mold)
Sporangia: Asexual reproductive structure housing spores
Zygospore: Sexual reproductive structure (tough & resilient)

5. 3) Sac Fungi (Ascomycota) Classification of Fungi:
Chapter 20: Fungi
Classification of Fungi:
Saprobic (e.g. morels) ; parasitic (e.g. dutch elm disease)
Medical Fact: Producer of penicillin
Ascus: Sexual reproductive structure containing spores
4) Club Fungi (Basidiomycota)
Saprobic (e.g. mushrooms); parasitic (e.g. rusts / smuts)
Basidia: Sexual reproductive cells (club-shaped) which give
rise to spores

6. Classification of Fungi: 5) Imperfect Fungi (Deuteromycota)
Chapter 20: Fungi
Classification of Fungi:
5) Imperfect Fungi (Deuteromycota)
Sexual reproduction never observed (can’t classify)
Some Fungi Form Symbiotic Relationships:
A) Lichen: Association between fungi (ascomycota) and
protists (green algae) or bacteria (cyanobacteria)
Mutualistic Interaction:
Fungus = Shelter / Protection
Symbiont = Food production
Primary
Succession
Pioneer

7. Some Fungi Form Symbiotic Relationships:
Chapter 20: Fungi
Some Fungi Form Symbiotic Relationships:
A) Lichen
B) Mycorrhizae: Association between fungi (all groups) and
plant roots (most plants)
Mutualistic Interaction:
Fungus = Digests / Absorbs Nutrients
Plant = Food production
May allow for communication
among plants...
May have aided plant’s invasion
of land...

8. Rusts / Smuts (Basidiomycota) Fungal / Human Interactions:
Chapter 20: Fungi
Fungal / Human Interactions:
A) Fungi cause the majority of plant diseases:
Dutch Elm Disease (Ascomycota)
B) Fungi are used to control pest species
C) Fungi cause human diseases:
Athlete’s foot / Ringworm (Ascomycota)
D) Fungi produces toxins:
Ergot: Rye plant infection (Ascomycota)
LSD - Hallucinogen derived
from an ergot
Might have been responsible
for Salem Witch Trials

9. Antibiotics (e.g. penicillin) Fungal / Human Interactions:
Chapter 20: Fungi
Antibiotics (e.g. penicillin)
Fungal / Human Interactions:
E) Fungi treat diseases:
Cyclosporin (organ transplants)
F) Fungi are good eatin’:
Edible mushrooms (know what you eat!)
Cheeses (e.g. Gorgonzola - ascomycota mold)
Yeasts (single-celled ascomycota)

10. Truffle: Symbiotic relationship between fungus & oak tree
Chapter 20: Fungi
Truffle: Symbiotic relationship
between fungus & oak tree
Ascomycota
Fungal Ingenuity:
1) Odors used to disperse spores:
2) Shotgun approach to dispersal:
Pilobolus: Spore cases are shot from
reproductive structure
Zygoomycota
3) Fungi of the wild west / high seas:
Some fungi produce specialized
hyphae to harpoon / snare nematode
prey

11. A) Protists (single-celled eukaryotes)
Chapter 18: Systematics
The Prokaryotes:
1) Bacteria
2) Archaea
Domains
3) Eukarya:
A) Protists (single-celled eukaryotes)
B) Fungi (multicellular; absorptive digestion)
Kingdoms
C) Plantae (Multicellular; photosynthsis)
D) Animalia (Multicellular; ingestion)