Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom Fungi

• A kingdom of organisms that absorb nutrients from their environment and reproduce efficiently.

Mycelium

• A network of branching filaments that usually grows below the soil surface and absorbs nutrients.

Hypha (Hyphae)

• An individual filament that makes up the mycelium of a fungus.

Dikaryotic Cells

• Fungal cells that contain two nuclei.

Fruiting Body

• The visible reproductive part of a fungus, such as the cap of a mushroom.

Saprophyte

• An organism that gets nutrients from dead or decomposing matter.

External Digestion

• A process where fungi release enzymes onto food outside their cells to break it down before absorbing nutrients.

Enzymes

• Special proteins that help break down organic matter into simpler substances.

Fragmentation

• A type of asexual reproduction where a piece of the fungus breaks off and grows into a new organism.

Budding

• A form of asexual reproduction where a new organism grows as a clone from the parent cell, common in yeast.

Spores

• Tiny reproductive cells that can grow into a new fungus.

Sexual Reproduction in Fungi

• Occurs when hyphae from two different fungi combine to form a new organism.

Yeast

• A unicellular fungus commonly used in baking and fermentation.

Mushroom

• A multicellular fungus with a visible fruiting body.

Penicillin

• A medicine made from fungi that is used to kill bacteria.

Antifungals

• Medicines used to treat fungal infections.

Cordyceps

• A fungus known for infecting insects and other organisms.

Athlete’s Foot

• A fungal infection that affects the skin on the feet.

Amanita

• A genus of mushrooms that contains many toxic species.

Blue Cheese

1. A food product made using certain types of fungi.