Kingdom Fungi

chemosynthetic, heterotrophic, multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that have a cell wall abundant (over 100 000 species) mostly subterranean (underground) able to secrete enzymes which decompose complex molecules into smaller ones General Structure of Fungi fungi are made up of filaments called hyphae, which never grow thick a group of hyphae all growing in an interwoven mat is called mycelium mycelium are vegetative (non-reproducing) and make up 99% of the fungi most of a fungi is vegetative; generally, only the fruiting body is above ground all fungi cells have cell walls made of chitin some fungi have crosswalls; these are called septate other fungi can grow faster by omitting crosswalls; these are called aseptate or coenocytic some fungi are multinucleated (more than one nucleus per cell) Multinucleated Hyphae

Important Terms Used to Classify Fungi a) b) c) d) haploid: 1 set of chromosomes (N) diploid: 2 sets of chromosomes (2N) dikaryotic: 2 separate nuclei, each with 1 set of chromosomes (N+N) syngamy: the fusion of 2 haploid gametes into 1 diploid cell; has 2 stages i. plasmogamy: fusion of 2 cytoplasms together (2 cells become 1) ii. karyogamy: fusion of 2 haploid nuclei into one diploid nucleus Phylums of Fungi Phylum Zygomycota generally decomposers such as bread mold mostly asexual reproduction and haploid life cycle for the most part do not have crosswalls (aseptate or coenocytic) or a noticeable dikaryotic stage reproductive cycle: asexual:

A haploid hyphae grows until it decides to reproduce asexually. First, it makes rhizoids for support. Then, it grows a sporangiophore above the ground. Finally, it does mitosis to make spores in the sporangium. Spores are carried by wind or water and will make new hyphae where they land. sexual: Opposite strains of hyphae, one positive and one negative, come together and fuse to form gametangia. Gametangia produce haploid gametes which combine in syngamy to form a diploid zygospore. A zygospore is a thick-walled zygote (hence, the name Zygomycota). The zygospore germinates and forms a sporangiophore above the ground. Meiosis occurs in the sporangium to produce haploid spores, half of which are positive, and the other half is negative. Spores are released into the air, and they will make new hyphae where they land.

Phylum Ascomycota (a.k.a. sac fungi or cup fungi) largest phylum of fungi: includes over 35 000 species includes some of the most important decomposers and devastating pathogens like zygomycota, they have positive and negative strains unlike zygomycota, they have a dikaryotic stage examples: yeast: only unicellular fungi; has a cell wall of chitin; used to make bread truffles: expensive mushrooms we eat ergot: poisonous fungi that grows on wheat

life cycle: asexual reproduction: haploid cycle (no diploid) a conidiophore grows above the ground mitosis occurs at the tip of the conidiophore to make spores (N) called conidia spores landing in favourable conditions grow into new hyphae sexual reproduction: 2 haploid hyphae of opposite strains meet and fuse together in plasmogamy to create a dikaryotic cell dikaryotic hyphae grow and survive in this state for a long time eventually, the N+N hyphae undergo karyogamy and form a diploid fruiting body above the ground called an ascocarp meosis and mitosis occur in the ascocarp, which is made of many asci, each containing 8 ascospores spores are released through gills and they will make new hyphae where they land

MITOSIS

Phylum Basidiomycota (a.k.a. club fungi) 4 little circles, not 3 traditional mushroom shape examples: toadstools: really long and thin mushrooms bracket fungi: also known as shelf fungi; grows on trees rust: infect wheat and turn it reddish-brown life cycle: do the most sexual reproduction asexual reproduction is the same as for ascomycota live the longest time as dikaryotic mycelium starts out with 2 primary mycelium of different mating strains which fuse together in plasmogamy to start a dikaryotic secondary mycelium; this grows for many years mycelium will eventually break through the ground and create a basidiocarp the mushroom will have hundreds of gills lined with basidia (singular: basidium) each basidium undergoes meiosis to make 4 haploid basidiospores each mushroom can make over 1 billion spores spores are released through the gills and they will make new hyphae where they land

Benefits of Fungi 1. 2. 3. 4. recycle nutrients (decomposers) yeast is used to ferment sugar into alcohol and to make bread rise isolate antibiotics from them (eg. Penicillin) Cyclosporin is used to suppress the immune system - success of organ transplants went from 50% to 90%

Disadvantages of Fungi 1. disease of crops: rust, ergot, potato blight, etc. 2. poisonous varieties: deathcap 3. human diseases: athletes foot, ringworm, etc. Spore Dispersal 1. Wind: spores are almost weightless; when released, even small air currents can move spores long distances 2. Rain: some fruiting bodies are triggered by raindrops to release spores (eg. puffballs) 3. Animals: mushrooms called stinkhorns attract flies by making spores that smell like rotting meat Symbiotic Relationships 1. Lichen: blue-green bacteria work with an ascomycota; the bacteria supply the energy while the fungus supplies the nutrients 2. Mycorrhizae: green plants work with fungi; the tree does photosynthesis and tree roots leak sugars to the mycelium; the mycelium provides a large surface to gather water and minerals for the plant