Fungi are organisms that we encounter in our everyday lives..

..whether know it or

you not!

Very diverse group of organisms

Tremella mesenterica (Witches Butter)

Athletes Foot

Metatrichia vesparium (Slimemold)

Ring Worm

Peltiger venosa

Geastrum tripex (Earthstar)

Various cultivated mushrooms

Roquefort or Blue Cheese

Camembert or Brie Cheese

Leavened and Unleavened Bread

Soy Products

Rhizopus stolonifer (Zygospore)

Alcoholic Beverages

But
What is a Fungus?
Aseroe rubra (Stinkhorn)

A very diverse group of organisms..

..genetically and in appearance

What is a Fungus?
1.Alexopolous (1952)

What is a fungus?

"nucleated, achlorophyllous organisms

which typically reproduce sexually and asexually, and whose usually filamentous branched somatic structures are surrounded by cell walls"

Excluded slime molds!

What is a Fungus?
2.Alexopolous (1962)
"nucleated, achlorophyllous organisms

What is a Fungus?
3.Currently, in the sense of most mycologists???
organisms that are nucleated, achlorophyllous, typically reproduce sexually and asexually by spores, and whose somatic structure is composed of filamentous branched or yeast, which are surrounded by cells walls composed of chitin Excludes slime molds and others!

which typically reproduce sexually and asexually, and whose usually filamentous branched somatic structures are surrounded by cell walls" composed of cellulose or chitin or both
Included slime molds!

Characteristics of Fungi
1.Heterotrophs a.Heterotroph categories: i.Saprobes ii.Parasites iii.Facultative Facultative saprobes and parasites iv.Symbionts (mutulalistic)

Characteristics of Fungi
2.Fungus body a.Hypha (pl.=Hyphae) Mycelium (pl.=Mycelia) b.Yeast

Characteristics of Fungi

Characteristics of Fungi
2.Fungus body a.Hypha (pl.=Hyphae) Mycelium (pl.=Mycelia)

Mycelium forming circular colony from radial growth (left) and mycelium as observed with microscope (right)

i.Coenocytic ii.Septate

Coenocytic Hypha

Septate Hypha Septum (pl.=septa)

Mycelium

Characteristics of Fungi
2.Fungus body b.Yeast: unicellular, asexual reproduction, budding or fission. c.Dimorphic: Having a yeast and mycelium phase in the same fungus.

Rhodotorula: Rhodotorula
Yeast

Yeast

Mycelium

Tremella mesenterica:
Dimorphic

3.Reproduce by spores a.Variable in size, shape and color. Sexual or asexual.

Budding Yeast

Spores are often borne directly on modified hyphae

Spores are not always borne directly on mycelium.

Penicillium notatum colony and

conidia and conidiophore (asexual)

Fruitbodies, e.g. mushrooms formed from mycelium produce spores (sexual).

Fruiting Bodies can be of various shapes, sizes and color

Characteristics of Fungi
4.Presence of cell wall: Chitin and infrequently cellulose 5.Eukaryotes: Membrane bound organelles, e.g. nuclei, mitochondria, plasma membrane, etc.

All are composed of tightly interwoven mycelium.

Characteristics of Fungi
6.Mode of nutrition: Absorption a. Fungi live in their food. b. Digestive enzyme(s) released to act on Insoluble food. c. Break-down (digestion) of food. d. Fungi absorb (=eat) digested food. e. Only sequence of events differ from animal ingestion of food.

Characteristics of Fungi
6.Mode of nutrition: Absorption f. If food is soluble, e.g., composed of simple molecules such as sugars and amino acids, digestive enzymes are not necessary. g. Soluble food can be directly absorbed into cells.

Summary of Absorption

Sexual vs. Asexual Reproduction

1.Sexual Reproduction a. Two parents required. b. Children borne will all be genetically unique. c. Children will inherit characteristics from both parents.

Sexual vs. Asexual Reproduction

2.Asexual Reproduction a. Only one parent is involved. b. Children borne will all be genetically identical to parent.

Post Scripts

Worlds largest fairy rings: Mushroom Armillaria gallica reported on April 2,1992 1.Mycelium (rhizomorph rhizomorph) of mushroom covered 37 acres Fairy ring is about 25 ft. in diameter 2.Over 1500 years old.

Worlds largest fairy rings: Mushroom Armillaria ostoyae reported on May 18,1992 1.Rhizomorphs of mushroom covered 1500 acres 2.Age???

Worlds largest fairy rings: Mushroom Armillaria ostoyae. 1.Rhizomorph of mushroom covered 2,200 acres 2.Over 2400 years old.

Misconceptions About Fungi

1.Temperature: Fungi grow best at warm temperatures a. Probably most grow better at 70-90F., But b. Some can thrive at temperatures of 130-150F. c. Some can thrive at temperatures below 32F (below freezing).

Misconceptions About Fungi

2.Water: Fungi need lots of water. a. Again, mostly true. But b. Some can grow in very dry conditions, e.g. contaminate grains and dried fruits. c. Some can grow underwater.

Misconceptions About Fungi

3.Light: Fungi grow best in the dark. a. Light is usually not important in growth of fungi b. Some species do have a light requirement for reproduction, but not for growth.

Summary of Characteristics
1.Heterotrophs. 2.Body composed of hyphamycelium or yeast, or both. 3.Reproduce by spores 4.Cell Wall, usually of chitin, rarely cellulose. 5.Eukaryotes 6.Mode of nutrition, absorption