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Mycology Applications: The World of Fungi. What are Fungi?. Kingdom Fungi Macroscopic (mushrooms) and Microscopic (filamentous fungi and yeasts) Heterotrophic (Feed by absorption ) Saprophytic (Obtain /recycle organic nutrients from decomposing matter) Parasitic (Feed off other organisms)
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What are Fungi? • Kingdom Fungi • Macroscopic (mushrooms) and Microscopic (filamentous fungi and yeasts) • Heterotrophic (Feed by absorption ) • Saprophytic (Obtain /recycle organic nutrients from decomposing matter) • Parasitic (Feed off other organisms) • No Chlorophyll, cell walls contain chitin • Non-motile
Fungi in Agriculture • Mycorrhizae (favorable) • Attach to plant root structures: Help plants absorb nutrients, water • Compost Degraders (favorable) • Degrade plant matter-Return nutrients to the soil • Plant Pathogens: Crop Damage (unfavorable) • Leaf Blights • Fruit Blights • Rusts, Smuts, Mildews
Fungi Affecting Wood / Building Materials • Lumber / Wood Degradation • White Rot (degrades lignin and cellulose) • Ascomycetes • Basidiomycetes • Brown Rot (degrades lignin only) • Basidiomycetes
Fungi In Bioremediation • Fungi effective in mineralizing waste chemicals in industrial processes • Chemicals: • VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) • Toluene • Acetone • PAH (poly-aromatic hydrocarbons) Biolasagna: LaBeau, 2000
White Rot Fungi In Bioremediation • Kotterman, et al 1998
Fungi and Indoor Air Quality • Fungi growing in quantity indoors may lead to health issues • Causes: • Water Damaged materials- (good substrate for fungi growth) • Poor Ventilation • Faulty HVAC • High Humidity
Fungi and Indoor Air Quality • SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) • High Levels of fungal spores may cause worker related health problems • Affects Schools, Businesses, Residential and Commercial Buildings
Fungi and Health • Antibiotics • Penicillin (produced by Penicillium chrysogenum • Fungal Infections • Topical (Athletes Foot) • Tinea pedis • Systemic • Coccidioides • Blastomycetes • Histoplasma
Identification of Fungi • Classical: Macroscopic, Microscopic • Slide Morphology: • Hyphal structure, conidia, spore shape • Plate morphology • Color • Surface texture • Edge
Today’s Lab • Examine Brown Rot fungi, White rot fungi (Important in building materials and crop blights) macroscopically and microscopically • Examine Peach Mummies and leaf blights found in field • ID Deuteromycetes using picture keys, agar plates and microscopes