The Fungi

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The Fungi

• (the one everyone wants to ask to TWIRP?)

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Main Ideas

1. Characteristics of Fungi
2. Fungal Forms
3. Classification of Fungi

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I. Characteristics of Fungi

• Made of eukaryotic cells
• 1. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus (prokaryotic
  cells do not)
• 2. Animal and plant cells are also eukaryotic
• 3. Fungal cells have a cell wall (animal cells
  do not).

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I. Characteristics of Fungi

• Release exoenzymes into their surroundings
• 1. Fungi digest 1st, then ingest (we ingest,
  then digest)
• 2. This allows the fungi to be decomposers
• 3. Fungi DO NOT PHOTOSYNTHESIZE they must
  obtain food from another source (heterotrophs).

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I. Characteristics of Fungi

• Made of hyphae microscopic tubular filaments
  composed of repeating cells.
• 1. Hyphae grow and increase a funguss surface
  area.
• 2. A mass of interwoven hyphae is called a
  mycelium (plural mycelia)
• 3. Mycelia are usually beneath the surface
• 4. Mycelia can be massive

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The Humongous Fungus of Oregon - Armillaria
ostoyae

• Covers an area equivalent to 1,600 football
  fields!!
• At least 2,400 years old!!
• Estimated to weigh hundreds of tons!!

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I. Characteristics of Fungi

• Reproduce through spores
• 1. Can be produced asexually and/or sexually
• 2. Fruiting body structure built for
  dispersing spores
• 3. Spores dispersed mainly through wind
• 4. Asexual stage Imperfect stage
• Sexual stage Perfect stage

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Main Ideas

1. Characteristics of Fungi
2. Fungal Forms
3. Classification of Fungi

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II. Fungal Forms

• A. Yeast
• 1. Some fungi exist only as yeast others can
  exist either as yeast or mycelia depending on
  conditions
• 2. Yeast reproduce asexually by budding

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II. Fungal Forms

• A. Yeast (cont.)
• 3. Examples bakers yeast (Saccharomyces
  cerevisiae)
• -human yeast infections (Candida albicans)
• 4. Uses in biotechnology
• a. Fermentation
• b. Study of molecular genetics in
  eukaryotes.

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II. Fungal Forms

• Molds
• 1. Rapidly growing, asexually reproducing
  fungi
• 2. Can spoil bread, fruits, and cheeses
• 3. Importance in biotech
• a. Fermentation
• b. Penicillin

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II. Fungal Forms

• Mushrooms
• Cups
• Shelf Fungi
• Puffballs

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Main Ideas

1. Characteristics of Fungi
2. Fungal Forms
3. Classification of Fungi

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III. Classification of Fungi

• Saprophytes
• 1. Feed on dead organic matter the
  decomposers
• 2. Important to ecosystems for recycling
  carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrients.

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III. Classification of Fungi

• Parasites are harmful to another organism
• 1. Human athletes foot, yeast infections,
  ringworm.
• 2. Over 70 of plant diseases are fungal (eg.
  Dutch Elm Disease)
• 3. Can also infect other microbes!
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vjOwCOLf0IRUfeatu
  rerelated

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III. Classification of Fungi

• C. Mutualists are beneficial to another
  organism
• 1. Lichen association of a fungus with algae

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III. Classification of Fungi

• C. Mutualists (cont.)
• 2. Mycorrhizae association of a fungus with
  plant roots
• a. fungi extend the reach of plant roots
• b. nearly all plants have mycorrhizae
• c. plants get more minerals from soil fungus
  gets organic nutrients from plant

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