Kingdom Fungi
Biodiversity Lifeline - Week 3
Basic Fungal Characteristics
• About Kingdom Fungi (Kingdom Mycota):
o Eukaryotic, multicellular (except ____________________________ yeast)
o Saprobes (______________________________)
o Reproduce both asexually and sexually
o Symbiotic relationships
• Why are fungi different from plants?
o Cell walls of fungi are made of __________________________ while
plants cell walls are made of cellulose
o Fungi are ______________________________: use exoenzymes to break
down food then absorb it after while plants are autotrophic and produce
their own food.
• Fungi are actually more closely related to ________________________ than to
plants!
Fungal Anatomy
•
•
___________________ __________________ - the part of the fungus that we
see; multicellular structure that holds the spore-producing structure
________________________ - contained within the fruiting body; single
tubular filaments
•
•
_____________________________ - the ‘living’ body of the fungus consisting
of a mass of branched hyphae; also called the thallus
Types of Hyphae
o Septate: hyphae with cells separated by ________________
o _______________________: cells lack walls, continuous cytoplasm
with multiple nuclei
o Haustoria: modified hyphae used to __________________________
the cells of their host
Fungal Reproduction
• Produce both sexual and ________________________ spores
o Asexual reproduction is the most common and produces genetically
__________________________ organisms
o Sexual reproduction (takes place in poor conditions, e.g. dry
conditions) creates genetic ________________________
• Classified by their sexual reproductive structures
o _____________________ ensure species dispersion to new locations
Symbiosis Relationships
• Mutualism: ____________________ organisms involved are benefited from
the relationship
o Examples:
 Lichen – alga/______________________________ + fungus;
important for decomposition and soil production
 Mycorrhizae – plant ____________________ + fungus
• Fungus extends plants roots to reach more minerals for
______________________________
• Plant provides fungus with organic nutrients
• Commensalism: _____________ organism is benefited while the other
organism is neither benefited nor harmed
o Example: _____________________________ – live in the hindgut of
arthropods (e.g. insects, millipeds, and crustaceans, etc.)
• Parasitism: one organism is benefited while the other organism
(_______________________) is harmed.
• Examples:
o Athlete's __________________
o Parasitic Cordyceps fungus infects insects and manipulates the host’s
behavior in order to _________________________ spores
The Eumycota (True Fungi) Family
• Ends in “-MYCETE” suffix meaning “_________________________”
o Chytridio_____________________
o Zygomycota
o Ascomycota
o Basidiomycota
o ___________________mycota
• “Eu-” prefix means “______________________”
Phylum Chytridiomycota
• “Chyrtrids” are the earliest or most ______________________ branch
• Aquatic in nature
o Simple water mold fungus
• Only branch that produce __________________________ and motile zoospores
o Zoospore structure is important for taxonomic organization within the
phylum
• Reproduction:
o Sexual or asexual reproduction
• Few are __________________________ of plants, algae, and small animals:
o Chytridiomycosis – a potentially lethal skin disease caused by the
_____________________ fungus
o Found on 287 species of __________________________ in 36 different
countries
Phylum Zygomycota
• Most contain coenocytic hyphae
• ________________________________ in nature
o Soil or decaying material
• Mold growth on peaches, sweet potatoes, and ____________________
• Reproduction:
o Sexual (______________________) or asexual reproduction
o _____________________ – fruiting body
o Zygospores (strong) – sexual spores
o Sporangiospores – asexual spores
o Rhizoids - ________________ - like hyphae, anchorage
• Examples:
o Rhizopus (black bread mold), ____________________________,
Zygomycosis
Phylum Ascomycota
• Fun facts:
o Known as the “_________________ fungi”
o ___________________ group of fungi – 75% of all fungi
o Most diverse
 Aquatic/terrestrial in nature
 Free living or symbiotic
• Reproduction:
o Ascocarp – fruiting body
 Takes on various forms
o Asci – sacs containing spores
o _________________________ – sexual spores
o Conidia – asexual spores
o Conidiophore – specialized stalks
• Examples:
o ______________________________, Saccharomyces (unicellular yeast),
morels & truffles, used in the production of __________________, bread,
and wine
Phylum Basidiomycota
• Facts:
o Known as the “_______________________- fungi”
o Majority are terrestrial in nature
o World’s largest organism
o Major decomposers of wood (__________________)
o Molds, yeasts, dimorphic
• Reproduction:
o Only sexual reproduction
o _____________________________ - fruiting body
o Basidia – specialized reproductive cell
o Basidiospores – spores
• Examples:
o Mushrooms, bracket fungi, __________________ stools, puffballs
Phylum Deuteromycota
o Known as the “_________________________ fungi”
• Resembles ascomycetes but _____________ sexual stage is observed
o
o
• Reproductive cycle not fully understood
• Produce asexual spores (_______________________)
Mostly terrestrial in nature
Examples:
• Athlete’s foot
• ____________________________
• Mold
• Aspergillosis (respiratory disease)
REMINDER!!
IMAGE/ABSTRACT Assignment is due:
Mon & Tues - Friday 09/12 by 11:59 pm
Wed – Fri – Saturday 9/13 by 11:59 pm