Transcript Fungi Nutrition and Habitat - Decomposers/Absorptive heterotrophs - saprobic, parasitic, mutualistic Structure - hyphae form mycellium.

Fungi
Nutrition and Habitat
-
Decomposers/Absorptive heterotrophs
- saprobic, parasitic, mutualistic
Structure
-
hyphae form mycellium
Coenocytic and septate hyphae
Growth and Reproduction
Classification of Fungi
Chytridiomycota
- uniflagellated spores
- link to protists?
Zygomycota
- zygosporangia
- black bread mold
(Rhizopus stolonifer)
Asomycota
- spores produced in
asci (sac-like structure)
- truffles
(Tuber melanosporum)
Basidiomycota
- spores formed in
basidiocarps
- mushrooms
Chytridiomycota
Zygomycota
Above: The common mold Rhizopus
decomposing strawberries
Right: Pilobolus aiming its sporangia.
Pilobolus, the hat thrower. Pilobolus is a
dung-loving (coprophilous) fungus. Spores
are dispersed up to 2 m away and stick to
grass blades in the vicinity. The grass and
caps are eventually eaten by herbivores.
Asomycota
(a) Antheridial elements of ascomycetes. The structures that donate
nuclei during fertilization in ascomycetes are collectively called
antheridial elements;
(b) Asci after meiosis and shows the development of ascospores to a
point where they have nearly reached full size, but still do not have
fully mature spore walls;
(c) The tips of two mature asci that are ready to shoot their mature
Ascospores into the air.
Clockwise: Scarlet cup; the Yellow morel; truffels
Basidiomycota
Fungal gills, Hypholoma fasciculare (Basidiomycota). The gills
hang down from the cap in a tightly packed array. By producing
gills in this way the mushroom can increase the surface area of
the fertile layer (hymenium) by a factor of 20 or more.
Molds, Yeasts, Lichens and Mycorrhizae
- represent unique lifestyles that evolved independently
Molds
Penicillium on an orange, soft rot of citrus. The name Penicillium comes
from penicillus = brush, and this is based on the brush-like appearance of
the fruiting structure under the microscope.
Yeasts
- unicellular fungi that
inhabit moist habitats
- Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
- baker/brewer yeast
- Candida
- inhabit human
epithelial tissue
- AIDS patients
Lichens
- symbiotic association
b/n fungi and algae
- mutual exploitation
- tough, resistant; but
sensitive to air pollution
Mycorrhizae
- mutualistic associations with plant roots
- increases the absorptive surface area of plant roots
- exchange of minerals between plant and fungus