KINGDO

M
FUNGI
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define fungi, its evolution, classification

and the relationships between fungi
phylums
Describe the structure and
reproduction of fungi
Discuss diseases and ways fungi can
cause diseases in humans and plants
List ways fungi are harmful and helpful
to us in our everyday lives
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Evolution of Fungi

FUNGI EVOLUTION

Over 80,000 species of Fungi

Mostly multicellular heterotrophs that
share a common mode of nutrition

Heterotrophic

Consume preformed organic matter

Saprotrophs

Absorb food: cells send out digestive enzymes

into the immediate environment that break
down dead and decaying organic matter

FUNGI EVOLUTION

Protists evolved 1.5 billion years ago

Plants, animals and fungi trace their
ancestry back to protists
Data tells us the fungi and animals
shared a common ancestor after plants
evolved

animals and fungi are more closely related

to each other than either is to plants
an aquatic, flagellated unicellular protist
was most likely the common ancestor of5

CLADOGRAM

Which of the
following is most
closely related to
a mushroom
(fungus)?

WHY?

Recent DNA-based
studies show that
fungi are more
similar to animals
than to plants

FUNGI EVOLUTION

Fungi anatomy doesnt lend itself

to becoming fossilized

Probably evolved a lot earlier

than the earliest known fungal
fossil dated 450 MYA

Mycorrhizae are evident in plant

fossils

FUNGI EVOLUTION
common ancestor

Basidiomycota
(club fungi)
Ascomycota
(sac fungi)
Glomeromycota
(AM fungi)**

common
ancestor

Zygomycota
(zoospore fungi)
Chytridiomycota
(zoospore fungi)

**AM fungi were once considered part of Zygomycota,

but molecular data suggest they are a different phylum.

Characteristics

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Fungi are NOT

plants
Nonphotosyntheti
c
Eukaryotes
Nonmotile
Most are
saprobes (live on
dead organisms)

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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Absorptive heterotrophs
(digest food first & then
absorb it into their
bodies
Release digestive
enzymes to break down
organic material or their
host
Store food energy asBREAD

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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Important decomposers
& recyclers of nutrients
in the environment
Most are multicellular,
except unicellular yeast
Lack true roots, stems
or leaves
MULTICELLULA
R MUSHROOM
UNICELLULAR
YEAST

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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Cell walls are made of

chitin (complex
polysaccharide)
Body is called the
Thallus
Grow as microscopic
tubes or filaments called
hyphae
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Some fungi are internal or

external parasites
A few fungi act like
predators & capture prey
like roundworms

Predaceous
Fungi feeding
on a
Nematode
(roundworm)
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Some are edible, while

others are poisonous

EDIBLE

POISONOUS

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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Produce both
sexual and
asexual spores
Classified by
their sexual
reproductive
structures

Spores come
in various
shapes
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Grow best in warm, moist

environments
Mycology is the study of
fungi
Mycologists study fungi
A fungicide is a chemical
used to kill fungi

Fungicide
kills leaf
fungus

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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI

Fungi include
puffballs, yeasts,
mushrooms,
toadstools, rusts,
smuts, ringworm,
and molds
The antibiotic
penicillin is made
by the Penicillium

Penicillium mold

Puffball

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Vegetative Structures
NON-REPRODUCTIVE

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FUNGAL STRUCTURE HYPHAE

Thallus (body) consists of

vast network of threadlike hyphae which form
the mycelium

Septate fungi have hyphae

with crosswalls

Septa have pores for

movement of cytoplasm

Non-septate fungi are

multinucleated and hyphae
grow at their tips

Hard cell wall of chitin,

like insect exoskeletons
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MODIFICATIONS OF HYPHAE

Aseptate (without septa)

Septate (with septa)

NO
CROSS
WALLS

CROSS
WALLS

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MODIFICATIONS OF HYPHAE
HAUSTORIA
parasitic hyphae on
plants & animals
Septate
Hyphae

Non-septate
Hyphae

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HYPHAE

Stolons
horizontal hyphae
that connect
groups of hyphae
to each other
Rhizoids rootlike
parts of hyphae
that anchor the
fungus

STOLO
N
RHIZOIDS

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ABSORPTIVE
HETEROTROPH

Fungi get carbon from organic sources

Tips of Hyphae release enzymes
Enzymatic breakdown of substrate
Products diffuse back into hyphae

Enzymatic brea
kdow n

Digested material is then

used by the hypha

Enzymes

Nucleus directs the digestive

process

HYPHAL GROWTH

Hyphae grow from their tips

Mycelium is an extensive,
feeding web of hyphae
Mycelia are the ecologically
active bodies of fungi
This wall is rigid Only the tip wall is plastic and stretches

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REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES
ASEXUAL & SEXUAL SPORES

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REPRODUCTION

Most fungi reproduce Asexually

and Sexually by spores
ASEXUAL reproduction is most
common method & produces
genetically identical organisms
Fungi reproduce SEXUALLY when
conditions are poor & nutrients
scarce
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SPORES

Spores are an adaptation to life on

land
Ensure that the species will
disperse to new locations
Each spore contains a reproductive
cell that forms a new organism
Nonmotile
Dispersed by wind
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SEXUAL
REPRODUCTION

3 STAGES:
1. HAPLOID HYPHAE
2. DIKARYOTIC STAGE
3. DIPLOID ZYGOTE

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SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Used when
environmental
conditions are poor
(lack of nutrients,
space, moisture)
No male or female fungi
Some fungi show
dimorphism
May grow as MYCELIA
or a YEAST LIKE
state (Filament at
25oC & Round at
37oC)

Dimorphic Fungi

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SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Haploid 1n hyphae from 2 mating

types (+ and -) FUSE (Fertilization)
Forms a hyphae with 2 nuclei that
becomes a ZYGOTE
The zygote divides to make a
SPORE

+ SPORE

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ASEXUAL
REPRODUCTION

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THREE TYPES OF ASEXUAL

REPRODUCTION

Fragmentation part of the

mycelium becomes separated &
begins a life of its own
Budding a small cell forms & gets
pinched off as it grows to full size

Used by yeasts

Asexual spores production of

spores by a single mycelium
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REPRODUCE BY SPORES

Spores may be
Formed:

Directly on hyphae
Inside sporangia
On Fruiting bodies
Penicillium
hyphae

Amanita fruiting body

Pilobolus sporangia

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Fruiting Bodies are modified

hyphae that make asexual
spores
An upright stalk called the
Sporangiosphore supports the
spore case or Sporangium

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ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Sporangia

Types of
Fruiting
Bodies:
Basidia
Sporangia
Ascus
Basidia

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Fruiting Bodies

Both are
compose
d of
hyphae

mycelium
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HYPHAL GROWTH FROM

SPORE

Germinating spore

mycelium

Mycelia have a huge surface area

More surface area aids digestion & absorption of food

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ITS ALL ABOUT THE SPORES!

Fungi are classified by their

REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES and
SPORES

The reproductive structures

are:

BASIDIA - BASIDIOMYCOTA
SPORANGIA - ZYGOSPORANGIA
ASCUS - ASCOMYCOTA
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ITS ALL ABOUT THE SPORES!

Spores are made of:

Dehydrated cytoplasm
Protective coat
Haploid cell

Wind, animals, water, & insects

spread spores
Spores germinates when they
land on a moist surface (new
hyphae form)
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Major Groups of Fungi

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MAJOR GROUPS OF FUNGI

Within the past

few years,
several groups
have been reclassified into
the protists
Two of these
groups are the
slime molds and
water molds

Classification by Nutrition

Saprobes

Parasites

Decomposers
Molds, mushrooms, etc.
Harm host
Rusts and smuts (attack plants)

Mutualists

Both benefit
Lichens
Mycorrhizas
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MAJOR GROUPS OF FUNGI

Basidiomycota Club Fungi

Zygomycota Bread Molds
Chytridiomycota Chytrids
AM Fungi - Mycorrhizas
Ascomycota Sac Fungi
Lichens Symbiosis (algae &
Fungi)

ZYGOMYCOTA

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ZYGOMYCOTA

Called the sporangium

fungi
Commonly called molds
Also includes blights
Hyphae have no cross
walls (aseptate)
Grow rapidly
Includes bread mold
Rhizopus stolonifer

Rhizopus on
strawberries

Tomato Blight

ZYGOMYCOTA

Asexual reproductive structure

called sporangium atop
sporangiospores make spores
Rhizoids anchor the mold & release
digestive enzymes & absorb food
Stolons connect the fruiting bodies

ZYGOMYCOTA
Sexual spores are produced by
conjugation when (+) hyphae and
(-) hyphae fuse
Sexual spores are called
ZYGOSPORES
Zygospores can endure harsh
environments until conditions
zygospore
improve

BASIDIOMYCOTA

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BASIDIOMYCOTA

Called Club fungi

Includes:

Mushrooms
Toadstools
Bracket & Shelf fungi
Puffballs
Stinkhorns
Rusts and smuts

USES FOR BASIDIOMYCOTA

Some are used

as food

(mushrooms)

Others damage
crops (rusts &

Portobello Mushrooms

smuts)
Corn Smut

Soybean
Rust

CHARACTERISTICS OF CLUB
FUNGI

Seldom reproduce asexually

The visible mushroom is a fruiting body
Basidiocarp (fruiting body) is made of a
stalk called the stipe and a flattened
cap with gills called Basidia underneath
Basidiospores are found on basidia
Annulus is a skirt-like ring around some
stipes
Vegetative structures found below
ground
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Hyphal fusion mycelium and fruiting

of haploid
body are dikaryotic
mycelia

haploid
mycelium

MUSHROOM
LIFE CYCLE
N
Meiosis

2N

N+N
Nuclear
fusion in
basidium

young basidia - the

only diploid cells

Fig 31.12
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ASCOMYCOTA

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CHARACTERISTICS

Called Sac fungi

Includes Cup fungi, morels,
truffles, yeasts, and mildew
May be plant parasites (Dutch elm
disease and Chestnut blight)
Reproduce sexually & asexually
Ascus - sac that makes ascospores
in sexual reproduction
Specialized hyphae known as
Ascocarps contain the asci

CHARACTERISTICS

Yeasts reproduce
asexually by
budding (buds
break off to make
more yeast cells)
Asexual spores
called conidia form
on the tips of
special hyphae
called

CONIDIA

CONIDIA FORMATION

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YEASTS BUDDING

Saccharomyces

USES OF ASCOMYCETES

Truffles and morels

are good examples of
edible ascomycetes
Penicillium mold
makes the antibiotic
penicillin.
Some ascomycetes
also gives flavor to
certain cheeses.
Saccharomyces
cerevesiae (yeast) is
used to make bread
rise and to ferment

CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA

60

CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA

Called chytrids
Produce motile
spores
Mostly saprobes
and parasites in
aquatic habitats
Biodegrade and
recycle nutrients
Chytrid that attacks Potatoes

MYCORRHIZAE

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MYCORRHIZAE

Fungus associated with plant

roots

Mutualistic relationships between

soil fungi and the roots of most
plants

Give plants greater absorptive surface

Help plants acquire mineral nutrients in poor soil

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MYCORRHIZAE

The earliest fossil plants have mycorrhizae

associated with them.

Several kinds:

Zygomycota hyphae invade root

cells
Ascomycota & Basidiomycota
hyphae invade root but dont
penetrate cells
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LICHENS

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LICHENS

Symbiotic Association
between:

Fungus and cyanobacterium

Fungus and green algae

Specialized fungal hyphae penetrate the

photosynthetic symbiont
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LICHENS

Possibly mutualistic, but the fungal

symbiont is probably a parasite of the
photosynthetic symbiont

The photosynthetic symbiont is

independent

The fungal symbiont usually cannot grow

alone
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LICHEN MORPHOLOGY

3 Morphological Types:

Compact crustose often located on bare rocks or tree

park
Fruticose shrublike
Foliose - leaflike

Crustose lichen, Xanthoria

Fruticose lichen, Lobaria

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Foliose lichen, Xanthoparmelia

LICHEN STRUCTURE

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LICHENS AS BIOMONITORS

Thalli act like sponges

Some species more sensitive than others
to pollutants
Which species are present can indicate
air quality
Most resistant species can also be
analyzed for pollutants
Can live in areas of extreme conditions
Contribute to soil formation
Sensitive indicators of air polution
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A Fungus Among Us

ANY
QUESTIONS?
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