Fungi

Nutrition and Habitat - Decomposers/Absorptive heterotrophs

- saprobic, parasitic, mutualistic

Structure - hyphae form mycellium

Coenocytic and septate hyphae

Growth and Reproduction

Classification of Fungi

Chytridiomycota - uniflagellated spores - link to protists?

Zygomycota - zygosporangia - black bread mold (Rhizopus stolonifer)

Asomycota - spores produced in asci (sac-like structure) - truffles (Tuber melanosporum)

Basidiomycota - spores formed in basidiocarps - mushrooms

Chytridiomycota

Zygomycota

Above: The common mold Rhizopusdecomposing strawberries

Right: Pilobolus aiming its sporangia. Pilobolus, the hat thrower. Pilobolus is a dung-loving (coprophilous) fungus. Spores are dispersed up to 2 m away and stick to grass blades in the vicinity. The grass and caps are eventually eaten by herbivores.

Asomycota

(a) Antheridial elements of ascomycetes. The structures that donate nuclei during fertilization in ascomycetes are collectively called antheridial elements; (b) Asci after meiosis and shows the development of ascospores to a point where they have nearly reached full size, but still do not have fully mature spore walls;(c) The tips of two mature asci that are ready to shoot their mature Ascospores into the air.

Clockwise: Scarlet cup; the Yellow morel; truffels

Basidiomycota

Fungal gills, Hypholoma fasciculare (Basidiomycota). The gills hang down from the cap in a tightly packed array. By producing gills in this way the mushroom can increase the surface area of the fertile layer (hymenium) by a factor of 20 or more.

Molds, Yeasts, Lichens and Mycorrhizae - represent unique lifestyles that evolved independently

MoldsPenicillium on an orange, soft rot of citrus. The name Penicillium comes from penicillus = brush, and this is based on the brush-like appearance of the fruiting structure under the microscope.

Yeasts - unicellular fungi that inhabit moist habitats - Saccharomyces cerevisiae - baker/brewer yeast - Candida - inhabit human epithelial tissue

- AIDS patients

Lichens - symbiotic association b/n fungi and algae

- mutual exploitation - tough, resistant; but sensitive to air pollution

Mycorrhizae - mutualistic associations with plant roots

- increases the absorptive surface area of plant roots- exchange of minerals between plant and fungus