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Jonard L. Gaspar

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Kingdom fungi

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Fungus - is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includesmicroorganisms such as yeasts and molds (British English: moulds), as well as themore familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, whichis separate from plants, animals, and bacteria. One major difference is that fungal cellshave cell walls that contain chitin, unlike the cell walls of plants, which contain cellulose.These and other differences show that the fungi form a single group of relatedorganisms, named the Eumycota (true fungior Eumycetes), that share a commonancestor (a monophyletic group). This fungal group is distinct from the structurallysimilar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds). The disciplineof biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology, which is often regardedas a branch of botany, even though genetic studies have shown that fungi are moreclosely related to animals than to plants. Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their crypticlifestyles in soil, on dead matter, and as symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi. They may become noticeable whenfruiting, either asmushrooms or molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organicmatter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange. They have longbeen used as a direct source of food, such as mushrooms and truffles, asa leavening agent for bread, and in fermentation of various food products, suchas wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the productionof antibiotics, and, more recently, variousenzymes produced by fungi areused industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides tocontrol weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many speciesproduce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloidsand polyketides, thatare toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few speciescontain psychotropiccompounds and are consumed recreationally or intraditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials andbuildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g. rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a largeimpact on human food supplies and local economies.The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with variedecologies, life cycle strategies, andmorphologies ranging from single-celledaquatic chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the truebiodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at around 1.5 million species, with about 5%of these having been formally classified. Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th

century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christian Hendrik Persoon, and EliasMagnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g.,characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology. Advances

in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into

taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based onmorphology and other traits. Phylogenetic studies published in the last decade havehelped reshape the classification of Kingdom Fungi, which is divided intoone subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.Fungi are not plants.Living things are organized for study into large, basic groups called kingdoms. Fungiwere listed in the Plant Kingdom for many years. Then scientists learned that fungishow a closer relation to animals, but are unique and separate life forms. Now, Fungiare placed in their own Kingdom.It is a hidden kingdom. The part of the fungus that we see is only the ³fruit´ of theorganism. The living body of the fungus is a mycelium made out of a web of tinyfilaments called hyphae. The mycelium is usually hidden in the soil, in wood, or another food source. A mycelium may fill a single ant, or cover many acres. The branchinghyphae can add over a half mile (1 km) of total length to the mycelium each day. Thesewebs live unseen until they develop mushrooms, puffballs, truffles, brackets, cups,³birds nests,´ ³corals´ or other fruiting bodies. If the mycelium produces microscopic

fruiting bodies, people may never notice the fungus.Most fungi build their cell walls out of chitin. This is the same material asthe hard outer shells of insects and other arthropods. Plants do not makechitin.Fungi feed by absorbing nutrients from the organic material in which theylive. Fungi do not have stomachs. They must digest their food before it canpass through the cell wall into the hyphae. Hyphae secrete acids andenzymes that break the surrounding organic material down into simplemolecules they can easily absorb.Fungi have evolved to use a lot of different items for food. Some aredecomposers living on dead organic material like leaves. Some fungi cause

diseases by using living organisms for food. These fungi infect plants,animals and even other fungi. Athlete¶s foot and ringworm are two fungaldiseases in humans. The mycorrhizal fungi live as partners with plants.They provide mineral nutrients to the plant in exchange for carbohydratesor other chemicals fungi cannot manufacture.You probably use fungal products every day without being aware of it.People eat mushrooms of all shapes, sizes and colors. Yeasts are used inmaking bread, wine, beer and solvents. Drugs made from fungi cure