1. Fungi
Fungi are split into 3 groups known as moulds, mushrooms and yeasts.
Most fungi are beneficial or useful to us like yeast (bread, beer and wine making), mushrooms (food), those that make antibiotics & those used in composting.
A few fungi are harmful or pathogenic. These include fungi that cause diseases such as athlete’s foot, thrush, ringworm, aspergillosis & pneumocystis pneumonia.

2. Structure of fungi A mushroom Reproductive structure (cap of mushroom)
hyphae
mycelium

3. Structure of bread mould
spores
Sporangium (reproductive structure containing spores)
Mycelium of hyphae
Sporangiophore (reproductive hyphum)

4. Structures & function of fungi
Sporangium: a structure in which thousands of spores are produced and mature.
Spores: reproductive structures that are dispersed by the wind. They germinate and grow into a new fungus
Hyphae (spreading and absorbing): fine threads that grow throw the substrate or food.
Sporangiophore /reproducing hyphum: sporangia develop on the tip of these hyphae. These hold the reproductive structures above ground to aid spore dispersal

5. Structures & function of fungi (continued)
Mycelium: a network of hyphae
Reproductive structure/cap: in mushrooms and toadstools the cap contains the spores.

6. Fungal diseases (research 2 of these)
Thrush (Candidiasis)
Athlete’s foot
Ringworm (Dermatophytosis)
Pneumocystis pneumonia
Aspergillosis
Cryptococcus meningitis
Stachybotrys

7. Fungal Growth and Reproduction
Fungi grow by producing long threads called hyphae.
When food is in short supply fungi reproduce by asexual reproduction also known as spore formation.
This process is shown in the diagrams on the next slide:

8. When spores land on a suitable food supply they start to grow hyphae
Spores put out hyphae
Bread
After a few days sporangia (spore heads) appear.
Sporangia
Mature sporangia burst and release huge numbers of spores into the air

9. The advantage of asexual reproduction over sexual reproduction is it is a quick process requiring only one parent cell, producing genetically identical offspring
The disadvantage of asexual reproduction over sexual reproduction is that there is no genetic variation and this

10. Sexual Reproduction in Fungi
Fungi can reproduce by sexual reproduction but this is quite rare.
The advantage of reproducing sexually is that this leads to variation which is very important if fungi want to survive.

11. How do fungi feed?
Fungi feed in a similar way to bacteria, by extracellular digestion.
Extracellular means outside the cell.
Digestion means to break down food into small soluble substances.

12. Extracellular Digestion in Fungi