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FUNGI. *Adapted from David Porter’s PowerPoint (UGA)*. Fungi are diverse and numerous More than 100,000 species of fungi described Estimated 1.5x10 6 total number of species Not all fungi related Organisms in three separate kingdoms have been called ‘fungi’
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FUNGI *Adapted from David Porter’s PowerPoint (UGA)*
Fungi are diverse and numerous • More than 100,000 species of fungi described • Estimated 1.5x106 total number of species • Not all fungi related • Organisms in three separate kingdoms have been called ‘fungi’ • Filamentous fungi, watermolds, slime molds
Nematoloma fasciculare Achlya racemosa Photo H.Jaksch
Characteristics of Fungi • most grow as microscopic branched filaments called hyphae • Feed on organic material by secreting digestive enzymes – extracellular digestion • Fungi absorb their digested food into their hyphae • Reproduce by spores
Mushrooms make millions of spores Spore print from Psathryella
Fungal Biodiversity • Different groups of fungi are defined by the spores that they produce. • Chytridiomycota (chytrids) • motile zoospores • We won’t cover this group instead we will look at the Deuteromycota (impefect fungi) • No sexual reproduction • Example: Penicillium notatum is a mold that frequently grows on fruit and is the source of the antibiotic penicillin. • Zygomycota (bread molds) • non-motile spores in a sporangium • Ascomycota (sac fungi and yeast) • asexual spores – conidia • Sexual spores – ascospores • Basidiomycota (club fungi and mushrooms) • Sexual spores - basidiospores
Ascomycetes – sac fungi Xylaria polymorpha – dead man’s fingers
Basidiomycetes – club fungi • Mushrooms • Puffballs • Earthstars • Stinkhorns • Bird’s nest fungi • Rusts • Smuts
Fungi behave in three different ways • Decomposers • Example: forest litter decomposition, wood rot, food spoilage • Parasites • Examples: leaf spot, root rot, athlete’s foot • Symbionts • Examples: mycorrhizas, leaf endophytes, lichens
Human uses of Fungi • Food – cheeses, mushrooms, mycoprotein • Fermentation – wine, beer • Industrial fermentation – citric acid, others • Medicine – penicillin, cyclosporin
Fungal abuses of humans • Pathogens – dermatophytes, systemic diseases • Agricultural pests – crop diseases • Toxins – mushrooms, molds