280 likes | 472 Views
Fungi. Chapter 26. Characteristics. Fungi are eukaryotic, heterotrophic and most are multicellular, but some can have unicellular stages Yeast cells are unicelluar and the fungus best known for making bread rise; mushrooms, mold and mildew are also fungi
E N D
Fungi Chapter 26
Characteristics • Fungi are eukaryotic, heterotrophic and most are multicellular, but some can have unicellular stages • Yeast cells are unicelluar and the fungus best known for making bread rise; mushrooms, mold and mildew are also fungi • The study of fungi is called mycology • There are three main phyla of fungi: Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota
Nutrients • Fungi get their nutrients by absorbing organic molecules from the environment • Instead of ingesting food and digesting the nutrients inside of the cells, fungi secrete digestive enzymes out of their cells and absorb the digested nutrients into their cell walls • Some fungi are saprophytic, meaning they get their organic nutrients from dead materials
Structure • Fungi have filaments called hyphae and cell walls that contain chitin • Chitin is a polysaccharide that also makes up the exoskeletons of insects, crustaceans and other arthropods • Multiple hyphae that form the body of a fungus are called mycelium • Some species have hyphae that are divided, but some species do not
Reproduction • Fungi can reproduce both asexually and sexually • Asexual Reproduction: • Produce identical haploid spores • Different types of fungi produce different types of spores:sporangiosporesor conidiophores • These spores are different due to whether they have divisions in their mycelia or not
Sexual Reproduction • Many, but NOT ALL, species can reproduce sexually, creating genetic variation • Fungi are neither male nor female; instead we say that fungi are either plus or minus • Only + and – can mate with each other, NOT + and + or – and – • In sexual reproduction, the hyphae of a + wil fuse with the hyphae of a – and their nuclei will combine their genetic information
Zygomycota • Most of these are terrestrial and found in soil • Mycelia of zygomycetes are not divided (coenocytic) • Bread mold is included in this phylum • Zygomycetes can reproduce both asexually and sexually • Sexual spore of zygomycetes is called a gametangium (2n)
Basidiomycota • Often called club fungi because of their clublike sexual reproductive structures (basidia) • The basidiocarp are the structures like mushrooms that have spores in their gills • Most members of basidiomycota are mushrooms, but not all of them
Ascomycota • These are known as sac fungi because of their sexually reproducing forms • Some members of this phyla are called cup fungi because of the structures that hold the sacs of spores (asci) • Many yeast species are ascomycetes • These are fungi that help bread rise and ferment grapes into wine
Mycorrhizae & Lichens • Mycorrhizae have a symbiotic relationship with plant roots • Found on more than 80% of vascular plants • Helps the plant take up nitrogen, phosphates and other ions • All three fungal phyla can form mycorrhizae • Lichens have a symbiotic relationship with a photosynthetic partner (usually green algae) • Most of these are ascomycota • The fungi provide shelter, while the photosynthesizer provides sugars
Fungi and Humans • Fungi can interact with humans by causing disease, they are used in industry and we eat them occasionally • Each phyla can contribute to disease and industry • Food fungi mostly come from Basidiomycota (mushrooms)
Diseases • Common fungal infections: • Ringworm • Athlete’s foot • Candida albicans • Other fungal infections • Histoplasmacapsulatum, Paracoccidioidesimmitis, and Blastomycesdermatitidis • All of these cause respiratory illnesses and can be inhaled from soil and bird feces
Industry • Fungi can be used in nonfood industries, such as pharmaceuticals and genetic engineering • The antibiotic penicillin is created from the fungi in the genus Penicillium • Cortisone cream is made from chemicals from the genus Rhizopus • Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been vital in genetic engineering: vaccine for Hep B and production of ethanol for automobile fuel
Food • Many species of fungi either aid in the production of food or are food themselves • Yeast (S. cerevisiae) is an important nutritional supplement because it contains vitamins, minerals and other nutrients • Many mushrooms species are found in grocery stores for consumption • Some fungi can damage foods: bread and fruit mold in the kitchen, corn and wheat smut in fields