Kingdom Fungi

What are Fungi?• Fungi are NOT PLANTS • Study of fungi = mycology

• Defined as a– single or multi-celled eukaryote with

heterotrophic, absorptive nutrition, chitinous cell walls, and which stores energy as glycogen.

Characteristics • Heterotrophic

– Cannot make own food

• Absorptive nutrition– Produce enzymes that break down food outside

body– Then absorb small molecules released by enzymes

Characteristics • Cell walls made of chitin

– 2 general growth patterns• Single cells: example is yeast• Hyphae: example mushrooms

• Reproduce by spores• Vital role in ecosystem

– Decomposers– Symbiotic – Predators

– Cordycepes: The Killer Fungus

Structure & Function• Hyphae

– Tubular– Long, slender branching filaments– Hard wall of Chitin– Crosswalls may form compartments– Grow at tips

Structure & Function• Fruiting Body

– Reproductive structure– Grows from mycelium

• Mycelium– Mass of branching

hyphae below soil

• Example: Mushroom

Fungal Structure Video

Fruiting Body and Mycelium

Reproduce by Spores• Spores are reproductive cells

– Sexual: plus (+) and minus (-)– Asexual: budding or breaking hyphae

• Formed– Directly on hyphae– Inside sporangia– Fruiting bodies

Above: HyphaeMiddle: sporangiaFar Left: fruiting body

Hyphal growth from spore

Germinating spore

Mycelium

Mycelia have a huge surface area

Asexual Reproduction

Sexual Reproduction

Diversity of Fungi

Classified by their reproductive structures

Phylum Basidiomycota“Club Fungi”

Gills with BasidiaCap

Rhizoids

Spores Released!

Phylum Ascomycota“Sac Fungi”

Baker’s Yeast

Penicillium

Morels

True Morel False Morel

Asci with ascopores

Phylum Zygomycota

Rhizopus mycelium

Mycorrhizae

Bread Mold with sporangia

Zygospore

Ecological Role

• Decomposers– break down complex molecules into sugars

or consume sugars found in environment.– Examples

• Common bread molds• Shelf fungi• White button mushrooms

Ecological Role

• Symbiotic Fungi– receive their energy (carbohydrates)

directly from a plant or algal partner. • Examples

– mycorrhizal fungi (live on plant roots)• 90% of all plants have fungal relationship

– lichens (contain algae)

"The Rotten World About Us"