Characteristics of Fungi
Fungi Kingdom are: eukaryotic, they reproduce by means of spores (usually by wind), non-vascular organisms, they have a cell wall similar to plants, however, it has a different chemical makeup, and they have a cytoplasmic understructure (similar to plant cells but different in the structure and organelles).
- Reproduction: asexual and sexual reproduction (through spores).
- Habit: Fungi can be found in almost any habits
- Nutrition Type: Fungi are decomposers. They get their nutrition from decomposing organic matter.
- Structure: The main body of fungi is made from hyhae, or branching off threads. One thing that differentiates the difference between the cell wall of fungi and plants, because the cell wall of fungi is made of chitin. They are all mutinucleated;so, they all have multiple nucleus'
- All fungi are eukaryotes.
Common Examples with phyla name
Basidiomycete fungi
Basidiomycota
- Some edible some poisoness
- Mushrooms!
- Major decomposer of organic matters
- Reproduces sexually from club shape structure
Rhizopus (black bread mold)
Zygomycota
- Reproduce sexually and asexually
- Live in a terrestrial environment
- This phyla consists mostly of quickly growing molds
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast
Ascomycota
- Produce ascospores for sexual reproduction
- Edible mushrooms
- Truffles
- Some ascomycota species are plant diseases
Tinea pedis, Athletes foot
Deutermycota
- Confusing, "imperfect", unknown reproduction cycle
- Has a fruiting body with different shape
- Has a Parasexual Cycle
- Phyla that does not fit in other phylas
Beneficial Fungi
- Penicillin- can be used to produce the antibiotics
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) - used in baking
- Saccharomyces boulardii- is a form of probiotics. It promotes a healthy digestive system.
Harmful Fungi
- Cryptococcus neoforman- meningitis which is the infection of the brain
- Mucor- causes a rare and very dangerous form of mucormycosis.
- Rhizopus- mold found on old bread and fruit