KINGDOM FUNGI

Characteristics of Fungi
 This kingdom contains heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms that are saprobes,
absorbing their food from decaying matter.
 Fungi are decomposers. They release digestive enzymes into their immediate
environment. These enzymes break down the dead organic matter. Fungi then
absorb the digested food through the cell wall.
 Slime moulds take up their food by simple endocytosis.
 The bodies of most fungi consist of threadlike filaments called hyphae. As the
hyphae grow, they branch, forming a tangled mass of filaments called a
mycelium that is well adapted to absorb nourishment from its food source.
 Most hyphae have cell walls strengthened by a substance called chitin, (a long-
chain polymer of beta-glucose that forms a hard, semi-transparent material).

Reproduction
 Most species in this kingdom reproduce asexually and sexually by means of
spores. Spores are single reproductive cells that have a haploid number (23) of
chromosomes
 The 100,000 species of fungi are grouped into divisions based on their pattern of
sexual reproduction. (Phyla are called divisions in Kingdom Fungi).
 Fungi with spores in a case like structure (sporangium), are placed in division
Zygomycota. Fungi with spores in a saclike structure (ascus), are placed in
division Ascomycota. Fungi with spores that form in a club like structure
(basidium), are placed in division Basidiomycota.

Case like Fungi (Division Zygomycota)

 Most fungi in this division are terrestrial saprobes. One common mould is bread
mould, or Rhizopus.
 Its tangled mass of mycelium grows and produces several types of hyphae. These
hyphae (rhizoids) extend into the food source like roots of a plant. They absorb
water and sugar from the bread supporting further growth.
 After a few days of favourable growing conditions black case like structures
(sporangia) grow at the tips of the hyphae. Each sporangium can produce
thousands of spores which may be transmitted to other food sources through the
air currents. (asexual reproduction). Under less favourable conditions, Rhizopus
reproduces sexually through conjugation forming a zygospore which remains
dormant until the growing conditions improve.

Sac like Fungi (Division Ascomycota)

 Fungi in this division are characterized by their formation of a sac structure used
in reproduction. They include the mildews, some moulds, and some yeasts.
 Sac fungi produce two kinds of spores. Spores produced as a result of sexual
reproduction are called ascospores. They are produced in an ascus or sac. Spores
produced asexually are called conidia.
 Examples: Powdery mildews are parasitic ascocarps that infect cereal grains,
lilacs, roses and other plants.
A truffle is an ascomycete that forms fruiting bodies underground. They are
considered a delicacy and sell for hundreds of dollars.
 Yeasts are unicellular. Some are grouped with the ascomycetes because they
form an ascus in one stage of their life cycle.
 Each yeast cell is oval and surrounded by a cell wall. The cytoplasm contains a
large vacuole and a nucleus. Under ideal conditions yeasts reproduce very rapidly
by budding. Under poor conditions, yeasts reproduce sexually forming
ascospores.
 Yeasts can tolerate conditions lacking oxygen and carry out anaerobic respiration,
or fermentation. In this process, sugar molecules are broken down by enzymes in
the yeast cells, releasing energy, carbon dioxide and alcohol.
 Bakers yeast is added to dough and the carbon dioxide released causes the dough
to rise. Wine makers use strains of yeasts that generate high volumes of alcohol.
 Some yeasts cause infections in the skin, lungs, and kidneys. Many are parasitic
and cause disease.

Club like Fungi (Division Basidiomycota)

 This division includes mushrooms, rusts, smuts, puffballs, bracket fungi and some
yeasts.
 Many members of this division are saprobes and others are parasites.
 Under damp conditions in soil or in rotting wood, the mycelial mass of hyphae
form knobs that absorb water and grow quite large. These knobs become spore
bearing structures called fruiting bodies.
 The umbrella like cap of mushrooms contains gills that radiate out like spokes on
a wheel. Each gill bears thousands of club like reproductive cells called basidia.
Each basidium contains several thousand haploid spores that are wind blown to an
alternate location. The mycelia from two different spores are able to fuse. (See
lifecycle on the next slide).

 Parasitic rusts and smuts make up another important group of fungi. These cause
damage to grain crops such as corn, oats, wheat, rye and barley.
  Bracket fungi can exist as saprobes on the wood of dead trees, or as parasites on
the wood of living trees.
 Puffballs are round or pear-shaped fungi. Often white and resembling mushrooms
they release their spores only when the fruiting body dries up and splits open.

Imperfect Fungi
 There are some species that have no known sexual phases and so cannot be
classified into divisions.
 Many of these species cause diseases in plants and animals, including humans.
 In 1928 Sir Alexander Fleming observed a green mould Penicillium growing on a
petri dish containing Staphylococcus bacteria. He later isolated a chemical
substance produced by the fungus (Penicillin). This was the first antibiotic to
come into medical use. This prevents the formation of cells walls or cell
membranes in reproducing bacteria.
 The common mould Trichophyton rubrum causes a contagious fungal infection
called athlete’s foot.

Fungal Associations
 Certain fungi associate with other organisms for the mutual benefit of both
partners.
 Lichens are symbiotic associations of a fungus with either an alga or a
cyanobacterium. The alga provides nourishment to the fungus through
photosynthesis. The fungus provides the alga with water, essential minerals, and
protection from dryness in barren and rocky habitats.
 Other fungi associate with the roots of plants. These associations are known as
mycorrhizae. The fungus mycelium forms a thick web over the surface of a
plant’s roots. The fungal mycelium absorbs water and minerals from the soil,
which it passes to the root. The plant provides the fungus with amino acids and
sugars.
 Still other fungi associate with leaf-cutting ants. The ants provide food for the
fungi until it grows large enough to serve as food for the ants.

Fungi Review Questions

1. In which division in the kingdom Fungi are mushrooms found?
a) Zygomycota b) Ascomycota c) Basidiomycota d) Imperfect Fungi
2. What are some similarities and differences between fungi and plants?
3. Describe the roles of fungi as decomposers and as parasites. Give examples.
4. What are mycelia and hyphae?
5. What carbohydrate is in the cell wall of fungus?
6. a) What are the parts of a lichen? b) What does each contribute to the other?
c) Why are lichens important?
7. Given your knowledge of fungi, what growth conditions might favor the fungus
that causes athlete’s foot?
8. a) With which kind of organism are mycorrhizae associated?
b) Why are they not considered parasites?
c) What role is played by each member of the relationship?
9. The reproductive cells of fungi are called _____.
10. What is a saprobe?
11. Explain the difference between a saprobe and a parasite.
12. What characteristic of yeast makes it an unusual fungus?
13. Certain types of mushrooms grow only at the base of a particular species of tree.
Explain.
14. What kind of fungus is used to make penicillin?
15 What advantage would a fungus that produces an antibiotic have over one that
does not?
16. Most mushroom mycelia grow in the soil. Why do mushroom fruiting bodies
grow above ground?
17. What are some of the other uses humans have found for fungi?
18. A spore may develop hundreds of kilometers away from its origin. Explain how
this is so.
19. a) Fungi use what type of nutrition?
b) They obtain food how?
20. Which of the following conditions are likely to be the most suitable for the growth
of fungi
a) warm and dry (b) light and dry (c) dark, cool and humid (d) light, warm and humid