Morphology of fungi

Fungi : fungi can be defined as euchre yotic, achlorophyllus, uni or multicellular micro-organisms which had a definate cell wall made up of either chitin or cellulose a intake food by means of absorpation & reproduce by asexually & sexually. As exual reproduction is followed by production of vegetative spores where as sexual reporduction by union ofmale & female gametangia forms a zygote. The body of the fungus is called thallus. The thread like structure present in the thallus called hypha, collectively, these hypha together clled mycellium. In case of fungi belonging to the dividsion myxomycote, which are unicellular, the somatic structure is refered as plasmodium. The mycel ium or hyphae may be asptate or septate ( presence of cross wall in the mycllum. On the basis of presence of mycelium on the host surfact it is further classififed as ectophytic ( present on the outer surfact of host 0 endophytic. ( present inside the host.) Endophytic mycleum is further classififed nto three type, intercellular ( tissue of host ) . When present in between the host cell & vascular ( When mycellium present in the vascular Endophytic myclium is further classified into three type, intercellular ( when opresent in between the host cell ) & vascular ( when mycelium present in the vascular tissue of host ). Apart form this mycleiump produces certain specialized structure i.e. haustoria ( which are produced by interecellular mycelium acts as a organ to obtain food from the host tissue & approsoria ( the ora\gan of attachment to the host surface ) some ectophytic fungi produses hypodia, the terminal cell of this hyplodium is expanded & rounded lobed or pointed.

Vegetative Modification of the mycelium:

The fungal mycleum is modified noto different structures these structures serve as the means of survivial under the unfavarable conmdition During certanse stage of life of the fungus, the mycel ium become organised into loosely or compactely woven tissue as disti nguished from loosely or compactely woven tissue as distinguished from loose hyphae ordinarlily composing a thallus. The term plectenchyma is used to describ such fungal tissue They are of two types. Prosenchyma ( oris-tiwards + enghyma infusion ) = infusion approaching towards the tissue , is rather loosely woxen tissu in which the component hyphaex lie more or less parallel to o9ne another & their typically elongated cells are easily disinguishable. Pseudoparenchyma parenchyma-a type of plant tissue ) ( peseudo = false + consist of closely packed, more or less

isodimatric or oval cell resembling the parenchyma cells of vascular plants. In this type of fungal tissue the hyphae have lost their individual ity & are not distinguishable as such. Rhizomorph : The mycelium of the fungus forms a thick strand & united hyphen lost their individuality & forms complex tissue that exhinit a division of labour. The string like mass has a thick, hard cortex, & growing tip that of a root. Sclerotium is the hard compact mass of hyphae acts as the resting body which is resistant to unfavrable condition & may remain dormant for long period & germinate under favarable condition. Storma : Stroma is a compact, somtic structure much like a mattress or a cushon on which or in which frutifications are usually formed.

Chlamydospore: There are the thickened or swollen cells of the mycelium containing stored food material & may formed terminally or interracially withstand the unfavorable condition & germinate during favorable conditions. Dormant mycelium: The mycelium which hibernate in the host tissue to tide over unfavorable condition remains in a dormant condition for a part of its life cycle & became active when the favorable condition prevails. Game: These are chlamydospore produced in lower fungi whose walls are thcker.