Fungi Classification
Jessica Harwood
Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.
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AUTHORS
Jessica Harwood
Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.
EDITOR
Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.
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C HAPTER
Chapter 1. Fungi Classification
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Fungi Classification
• Summarize characteristics that distinguish fungi from plants.
• List the three common types of fungi.
What’s growing on these oranges?
Mold, of course! Did you know that mold is a type of fungus? There are many different types of fungi besides molds,
however, including mushrooms. Mold and mushrooms are obviously different. So how are these fungi classified?
Fungi Classification
Scientists used to think that fungi were members of the plant kingdom. They thought this because fungi had several
similarities to plants. For example:
• Fungi and plants have similar structures.
• Plants and fungi live in the same kinds of habitats, such as growing in soil.
• Plants and fungi cells both have a cell wall, which animals do not have.
How Fungi and Plants Differ
However, there are a number of characteristics that make fungi different from plants:
1. Fungi cannot make their own food like plants can, since they do not have chloroplasts and cannot carry out
photosynthesis. Fungi are more like animals because they are heterotrophs. They have to obtain their food,
nutrients and glucose, from outside sources.
2. The cell walls in many species of fungi contain chitin. Chitin is tough carbohydrate found in the shells of
animals such as beetles and lobsters. The cell wall of a plant is made of cellulose, not chitin.
3. Unlike many plants, most fungi do not have structures, such as xylem and phloem, that transfer water and
nutrients.
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The Types of Fungi
The Kingdom Fungi can be broken down into several phyla. Each phyla has some unique traits. And even within
the same phyla there are many differences among the fungi. Various types of fungi are pictured below ( Table 1.1).
Notice how different each of these organisms are from one another.
TABLE 1.1: Three Common Types of Fungi
Type of Fungi
Molds
Examples
Penicillium
Mushrooms
Morels, shiitake, cremini, oyster
Single-celled yeasts
Baker’s yeast
Summary
• Fungi are no longer classified as plants.
• Although fungi have cell walls like plants, the cell walls are made of chitin instead of cellulose.
• Types of fungi include molds, yeasts, and mushrooms.
Explore More
Use the resources below to answer the questions that follow.
Explore More I
• The Fungi Kingdom at http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=bio304
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How many of the existing fungi do scientist feel they have identified?
What are three general characteristics of Chrytid fungi?
Give three examples of Basidiomycetes.
What is the defining characteristic of Ascomycetes?
How are all fungi the same? How do they differ?
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Chapter 1. Fungi Classification
Explore More II
• Asomycete Fungi at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioBGnZwRjsQ (5:52)
MEDIA
Click image to the left or use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/57458
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In what kind of habitats do you find Ascomycete fungi?
How large is their fruiting body?
Do you think you can find Ascomycerte in marine environments? Why or why not?
What characteristics do scientists use to distinguish between different species of fungi?
Review
1. What do plants and fungi have in common?
2. What are the significant differences between plants and fungi?
3. How are fungi more like animals than plants?
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