Kingdom Fungi Notes

Introduction to Fungi

• Fungi are eukaryotic, non-motile, can be unicellular (yeasts) or multicellular.

• Multicellular fungi consist of hyphae forming mycelium.

• Hyphal cells store carbohydrates as glycogen, are surrounded by chitin cell walls.

• Fungi are heterotrophic, feeding on living (parasitism) or dead (saprophytism) matter.

• Fungi are vital for decomposing, forming mutualistic relationships with plants, and are used in various human industries.

Major Fungal Phyla

Phylum Zygomycota

• Includes zygote fungi such as Rhizopus stolonifera (bread mold).

• Explore characteristics and life cycles through videos on Rhizopus.

Phylum Ascomycota

• Known as sac fungi.

• Example: Peziza (cup-shaped ascocarp).

• Videos explore reproduction and microscopy of ascomycetes.

• Includes Penicillium sp. (source of blue-green areas on Roquefort cheese).

Phylum Basidiomycota

• Known as club fungi.

• Explore structure of basidiocarps (e.g., mushrooms).

• Videos discuss sexual reproduction in basidiomycetes.

Lichens

• Symbiotic associations between fungi and other organisms.

• Three types: foliose (leaf-like), crustose (crust-like), fruticose (bushy).

• Can survive in harsh environments and may produce antibiotics.

Activities

• Various at-home observations and activities related to fungi structures and reproduction.

• Requirement for detailed biological drawings and completion of a comparative table of fungi features for effective study preparation.