BIO 1407: Diverse Fungal Lineages

Chytridiomycota

"Chytrids"

- decomposers, mutualists, parasites

- structure: chitin cell wall, flagellated spores

- multicellular or unicellular

- type of mycosis that has caused over 90 amphibian species to become extinct

- fungus invades keratin in outer layer of dermal tissue

Zygomycota

- live primarily as parasites

- usually reproduce asexually via mitotically produced spores

- some species undergo plasmogamy (zygosporangium)

- causes fly death fungus

- airborne spores settles on insects and penetrates exoskeleton

- hyphae growth causes cracks in abdomen

- mucoromycetes include growing molds

- rhizopus stolonifer is atypical bread mold

Glomeromycota

Ascomycetes "Sac Fungi"

- marine, freshwater, terrestial

- saclike spore producing structures (asci)

- 25% live within the lichen structure

- some are edible: morchella esculenta (morel) & tuber melanosporum (truffles)

Basidiomycota

Club Fungus "little pedestal"

- club shaped fruiting bodies (basidiocarps) & contains loubule shaped cells (basidium)

- well known wood and plant decomposers

- known for functioning as decomposers, parasites, or mycorrhizae

- Agariomycetes or "shelf fungi": mycelium embed into tree trunks and feed on wood

- Puccinia or "rust": causes fungal disease, infected foral plants, causes bumps on leaves and stems