Fungi

Close relation to animals

Chitin and glycogen

Chitin

complex glucose polymer; reinforces cell walls in fungi

Unicellular

yeasts

Multicellular fungi

mycelium (underground) to feed and reproductive structure aboveground

Hyphae

filaments that make up mycelium and reproductive structures. nutrients abo

Septate hyphae

filaments are divided into cells by septa (crosswalks) septa have pores.

Coenocytic hyphae

cells are not divided & multinucleate

Fungi Morphology

high surface to volume ratio, but prone to water loss. so live in moist enivornments

Fungi nutrition

Fungi do not ingest food. secrete digestive enzymes onto food, absorb nutrients. main decomposers in terrestrial environments

Saprophytes

organisms that derive nutrition via absorption of dead plant matter. many of fungi are.

Lignin peroxidase

some fungi digest lignin that animals can’t digest.

Cellulase

ome fungi digest cellulose that animals can’t digest.

Carbon cycle

Fungi break down dead trees and speed up cycle

Mycorrhizae

mutualistic relationship between fungi and plant roots. fungi give nitrogen and phosphorous to plants, get carbs back.

Genetics of Mycorrhizae

important to early land colonization for plants and fungi. plant genes required for mycorrhizal relationships present in all plant lineages.

Sym genes

common ancestor with genes for symbiotic mycorrhizae relationship

Lichen

fungus living in association with green alga or cyanobacteria. fungus prevents desiccation of alga and get carbs in return

Lichen history and importance

extremely important in soil formation because they can colonize and weather rock. could have helped plants colonize land, fossil record of 420 mya.

Parasitic fungus

plants and animals. cordyceps (THE LAST OF USSSS) and corn smut.

Fungi Lifecycle

asexual and sexual reproduction. only a brief portion of the lifecycle is diploid.

Plasmogamy

fusion of cytoplasm of 2 different mating types

Karyogamy

fusion of nuclei

Spores

key dispersal stage in fungal lifecycle. produced asexually and sexually

Conidia

asexual spores

Zygomycota

zygosporangium (sexual). forms by plasmogamy, when different mating strains join.

Rhizopus

black bread mold. zygomycota

Basidiomycota

sexual structures = basidium (club)

mushrooms are aboveground reproductive structures

gills are lined with basidia on which basidiospores are made via meiosis.

Ascomycota

sexual structure is an ascus. found on multicellular species such as penicillium and truffles.

\

Yeast

unicellular ascomycete

Chytridiomycota

only fungi with motile cell. haploid gametes (spores) that move via flagella

Chytrids

largely aquatic, FW environments and wet soils. some parasitic, like chytridiomycosis.

Glomeromycota

form most mycorrhizae

Fungi on humans

pathogenic, human disease, destruction of food supply. we eat fungi and antibiotics from them

Fungi on ecology

provide plant nutrition (mycorrhizae), nutrient cycling via decomposition (carbon cycle).