2/19/2014
Kingdom Fungi
Field trip: Sequoia Creek
Restoration
Extra credit service-learning in environmental
education (5 pts)
Mycorestoration!
Sunday Feb 23, 1- 4pm (LBCC event)
Monday , Feb 24 1- 4pm (posted on
SOLV.org)
Sun day March 9, 1-4pm (posted on
SOLV.org)
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Lecture Outline
1. Major Fungal Characteristics
2. Fungi Diversity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chytrids
Zycomycets
Glomeromycets
Basidiomycets
Ascomycets
3. Ecology
1. Decomposers
2. Mutualisms
1.
2.
3.
Lichen
Mycorrhiza
Endophytes
3. Pathogens
Stepping back to “the tree”
Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants…
In your groups - discuss:
1. Why they were originally
thought to be more closely
related to plants?
2. Why they are now
considered to be more
closely related to animals?
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Major Fungal
Characteristics
1. Organism organization:
 Unicellular or
 Multicellular
2. Eukaryotic cells
3. Heterotrophs-- they
obtain their nutrients from
other organisms
4. Fungi secrete enzymes
outside their bodies and
absorb the digested
nutrients
Anatomy
Fungi have
filamentous bodies
• Fruiting body
• Mycelium
Made of
hyphae
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Figure 18.1 Masses of hyphae form
mycelia
The dense interwoven mat you see here growing through leaves
on a forest floor is a mycelium made up of microscopic hyphae
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Filamentous body
Fig. 22-1
mycelium
hyphae
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Filamentous Structural Organization
One cell
of one hypha
thread
of the
mycelium.
Septum and pore between cells in a
hypha
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DNA in Chromosomes
Haploid nucleus
Haploid cells have one set of chromosomes
Diploid cells have two sets of chromosomes
Fungi
(1n)
Adult
human
(2n)
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What causes a ‘fairy ring’?
Discuss with your table
Major Fungal Characteristics
Cell wall composition
Chitin (with some cellulose), a nitrogen-containing
polysaccharide
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Characteristics of the Kingdom Fungi
Reproduction
spores
asexual
sexual
Sex: Fungi can be classified
as:
male, female
….. + many more sexes!
Called “mating types”
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Fungi Classification & Taxonomy
Groups are based
on cell nuclear
structure: number
of nuclei per cell
and
 Reproductive
structures

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Hyphae cell nuclear structure
Hyphae of most species
are divided into many
cells by partitions called
septa (singular, septum);
each cell possesses one
or more nuclei
Pores in the septa allow
cytoplasm to stream from
one cell to the next.
Fungi Classification & Taxonomy


Groups are
based on cell
nuclear
structure:
and
reproductive
structures
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Phylogeny of the Major Groups of Fungi
Septation
Fungal Diversity
56,000 known species
+ a million unknown?
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Chytridiomycota
Most chytrids are aquatic
They are distinguished from other fungi
by forming flagellated spores that
require water for dispersal
They reproduce both asexually and
sexually
Zygotmycota (Zygomycetes)
1% of known species
Successful, rapid reproducers
Produce and disperse hundreds of spores
from hyphae tips
Bread molds
Zygomycosis- malnourished, diabetics,
burns, weakened immunity systems
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Zygomycota
Zygote Fungi
 Aseptate: Multi-nucleated cells of
hyphae
Pilobolus crystallinus
 Reproduces both sexually and
asexually through sporangia
 Reproductive structure:
Rhizopus
stolonifer
 zygosporangia
 Examples: Rhizopus stolonifer &
Pilobus crystallinus
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Pilobus crystallinus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrKJ
AojmB1Y
Glomeromycota
Live in intimate contact with the roots of plants
Their hyphae penetrate root cells and form
microscopic branching structures inside the cell
Mutualism: Internal mycorrhizae
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Club fungi (Basidiomycota)
25,000 species
Reproductive structures protrude out
from mycelium
“mushrooms”
Caps with gills on
surface that have
spores
Basidiomycota
Cells: Septate
Amanita muscaria
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Basidiomycota
Reproductive structures:
Basidiocarp, basidium,
basidiospore
Ascomycota: Sac fungi
Most diverse group
30,000 species
Cells: Septate
Reproductive structures
Ascocarp, ascospores develop in
ascus
Peziza sp.
Symbiotic associations:
Endophytic mycorrhizae beneficial association with plants
With insects: leaf cutter ants,
termites
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Ascomycota
Sexual reproductive structures:
Ascocarp, asci, ascospores
Ascomycota
Asexual reproduction
Structure: Conidia
Example:
Penicillium
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Diverse lifestyles
Fungi can be:
Decomposers e.g. bread mold
Parasites e.g. Athlete’s foot
Mutualistic symbionts
Decomposers
Angel wings
Pleurocybella porrigens
Chicken of the woods
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Mutualists:
A. Lichens
A. Lichens are a
composite
organism
(fungus+algae or
cyanobacteria)
Lichen
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Lichen
The fungal component is
usually in the Ascomycota
Lichen with
basidiomycet
fungi
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Lichen with
Basidiomycota fungi
Ecological Roles of Lichens
Pioneer species: Survive in hostile
habitats and colonize new habitats
Cyanobacteria-containing lichens can fix
nitrogen
Convert atmospheric nitrogen to a form
plants can use
Environmental indicators
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Symbiosis of Fungi with Other Organisms
1. Mutualistic
B. Mycorrhizal fungi
Mycorrhizal fungi
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Symbiosis of Fungi with Other
Organisms
1. Mutualism
C. Endophytic fungi
Aphids
Clacvicepts
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Symbiosis of fungi with other
organisms
2. Pathogenic
Examples:
Ergot
Salem witch trials?
Symbiosis of fungi with other
organisms
2. Pathogenic
Plant diseases caused by
Rusts
Smuts
Examples:
Corn smut
Dutch elm disease
Chestnut blight
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Pathogenic Fungi
World’s largest
organism?
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Pathogenic fungi
Lobster mushrooms
Parasitize other
fungi!
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Symbiosis of fungi with other
organisms
2. Pathogenic Example:
Chytridiomycosis
infectious skin disease that
affects amphibians
worldwide
Caused by a Chytrid fungus
Chytrid life cycle
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Chytrid infection
The pathogenic chytrid, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis,
has infected this frog
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Symbiosis of fungi with other
organisms: Pathogenic
White nose syndrome:
Geomycets destructens
Bat populations in the
east are devistated!
Globalization—from
Europe
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Cordyceps/ Phasyrum and
Insects
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuopJ
YLBvrI&feature=related
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