Transcript Kingdom Fungi

Today’s Bellringer:
Give me one
example of a
fungus.
Kingdom Fungi
My Favorite Food: Mushrooms
What Are Fungi?
Fungi:
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Are eukaryotes (have an organized nucleus)
Have cell walls
Are heterotrophs
Use spores to reproduce
They also:
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Need moist warm places to grow
DO NOT MOVE
What Are Fungi?
Cell Structure
Can be unicellular or multicellular
Most cells of fungi (except for yeast) are
arranged in structures called hyphae.
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Hyphae- the branching, threadlike tubes that
make up the bodies of multicellular fungi
Fungi appearance depends on how hyphae are
arranged
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Fuzzy-looking molds: loose hyphae
Mushroom caps: tight hyphae
Cap
Gills
Stalk
Hyphae
Underground hyphae
What Are Fungi?
Obtaining Food
Absorb food through hyphae that grow into
a food source
1. Fungus grows into the food source
2. Digestive chemicals ooze from
hyphae into food
3. Chemicals break down the food into
small substances to be absorbed by
hyphae
Reproduction in Fungi
Most reproduce by making spores
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Lightweight spores are surrounded by a
protective covering and can be carried easily
though air or water to new sites
Fruiting Bodies: reproductive structure
where spores are produced
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Vary in appearance in all fungi
Reproduction
Asexual
Most fungi reproduce sexually and
asexually.
Asexual- if there is adequate moisture
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Cells at the tips of hyphae divide to form
spores
Spores grow into fungi genetically identical to
parent
Asexual Reproduction cont’d
(Budding)
Asexual reproduction in yeast cells is
called budding.
1.
2.
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During this process, NO spores are
produced.
Small yeast cell grows from body of large,
well-fed parent cell in a way similar to the
bud forming on the branch of a tree.
New cell breaks away and lives on its own.
Sexual Reproduction
Most fungi can also reproduce sexually
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1.
2.
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Done when growing conditions become
unfavorable
Hyphae of 2 fungi grow together
Genetic material is exchanged
New reproductive structure grows from the
joined hyphae and produces spores
Spores develop into fungi that differ
genetically from parents
Classification of Fungi
3 major groups:
1. Sac fungi- produce spores in sac-like
structures.
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Include yeast, morels, and truffels
2. Club fungi- produce spores in clublike
structures.
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Include mushrooms, rusts, puffballs
3. Zygote Fungi- produce very resistant spores
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Includes fruit and bread molds
The Role of Fungi in Nature
Fungi can be:
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Food for many people
Decomposers and recyclers on Earth
Disease causing
Used to fight diseases
Found living in symbiosis with other
organisms
Food and Fungi
Yeasts- used in bread making and baking
Molds- used to make cheeses
Mushrooms- my favorite!!!
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Morel, button, portabella,
Never pick and eat wild mushrooms, they may
be poisonous
Environmental Recycling
Fungi are decomposers
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Live in soil and break down chemicals in dead
plant matter
Returns nutrients to soil
Imagine a world without
decomposers……..YUCK!!!!!
Disease-fighting Fungi
Alexander Fleming- discovered Penicillium mold
in 1928
Produced first antibiotic of penicillin
Since then, many antibiotics have been formed
by molds and fungi
Thank you Mr. Fleming!!
Here is a website to visit for further info on
Fleming and penicillin
http://herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/FunFacts/penicilli
n.htm
Disease-causing Fungi
Parasites that cause serious disease in plants
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Sac fungus causes Dutch elm disease
Club fungus cause corn smut and wheat rust
Some cause disease in humans
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Athlete’s foot fungus- irritation between toes
Ringworm- itchy circular rash on skin
Can easily spread from person to person
Treated with antifungal medicines
Here is a website that tells more about disease
causing fungi if you are interested
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http://herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/FunFacts/endocarditis.
htm
Fungus-Plant Root Associations
Some fungi’s hyphae helps plants grow
larger and healthier
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Hyphae spread out underground and absorb
water/nutrients for plant
Known as a mutualistic relationship
Lichens
Lichen: consists of fungus and either
algae or autotrophic bacteria that live
together in a mutualistic relationship
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Fungi get:
food
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Algae/bacteria get:
Shelter, water, and minerals.
Some plants cannot live without their
fungal partner!! Anyone heard of independence?!
Lichens cont’d
Called “pioneer” organisms
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first appear on the bare rocks after a volcanic
eruption, fire, or rock slide
Lichens break down the rock into soil so other
organisms can grow
Very sensitive to pollutants
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Die when pollution levels rise
Used to assess air quality in an area
http://herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/FunFacts/UrbanTreasu
re.htm
http://herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/FunFacts/DesertTreas
ure.htm