Mycology

Fungi, fungi, biological

characteristics, significance

LIVING THINGS
3 DOMAINS of Life:
BACTERIA
Prokaryotic Cells

ARCHAEA
Prokaryotic Cells

EUKARYA
Eukaryotic Cells

(Semi-Living Things)
Viruses
Non-cellular

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Protista
Single-celled, Autotrophs or Heterotrophs, variable

Kingdom Plantae
Multicellular (mostly), Autotrophs, Producers

Kingdom Animalia
Multicellular (mostly), Heterotrophs, Consumers

Kingdom Fungi
Multicellular (mostly), Heterotrophs, Decomposers

Mycology
Mycology from Greek mykes = mushroom,
cap & logos = discourse, study.
Fungus (Fungi) Latin, from the greek
Sphongous = sponge-like, spongy.

Mycology
Mushrooms, Toadstools, Boletes, Yeasts,
Molds, Mildews, Puffballs, Stinkhorns.

FUNGI
Huge group of very successful organisms found
in virtually all ecological niches on Earth.
Largest single organism on Earth is a fungus.
(Armillaria

ostoyae)

~100,000 species* so far described, but there are

likely many more (up to 2 million).
Inadequate sampling
*Species? Individual?

Traditionally, fungi (particularly mushrooms) have

been studied by botanists, however, they are
achlorophyllous.

Fungi vs fungi
Fungi are a monophyletic (closely related) group
of organisms all sharing a common ancestry and
evolutionary history, and sharing many common
characteristics.

TRUE Fungi
fungi are organisms that share many
characteristics with Fungi (and so superficially
resemble them), but DO NOT share a common
ancestry and evolutionary history.

fungus-like organisms

FUNG-ISMS

Myco
mycetes
mycota
mycotina

Pathogenic/pathogen vs free-living
Dimorphism (Anamorph, Teliomorph --Holomorph)

Characteristics of Fungi
Heterotrophic (Saprobic or Parasitic)
Extracellular digestion
Enzymes (hydrolytic, proteases, etc.) break down
macromolecules dimers & monomers.
These digestion products are then absorbed.

An adaptive morphology allows for sufficient

surrounding of food and sufficient energy
intake to counteract the energy spent in
digestive enzyme production

Characteristics of Fungi
Most are filamentous
(adaptive morphology for
increased surface area).
Vegetative body called a
Mycelium (pl. Mycelia).
A Mycelium is composed
of numerous Hyphae
(sing. Hypha), each 1 cell
wide.

Characteristics of Fungi
Some are small uni-cells
Yeasts

Yeasts
Chytridiomycota

Filamentous Stage

Chytrids

Characteristics of Fungi

Cell Wall

Characteristics of Fungi
Cell Wall is composed of Chitin.
Complex, N-containing Polysaccharide (a
carbohydrate polymer).
Helps maintain osmotic pressure in the cells.

Characteristics of Fungi
The vegetative (somatic) body of a fungus
is the Mycelium: the absorptive, adult,
feeding stage.

Hyphae
Septa (sing. Septum) are partitions between
hyphal cells.
Aseptate taxa are coenocytic (multinucleate).
Septate taxa typically have a Septal Pore.

Characteristics of Fungi
Rhizomorphs root like masses of hyphae.

Characteristics of Fungi
A fraction of the vegetative mycelium is
devoted to reproduction.
Specialized hyphae bearing Spores.
Spores are tiny propagules.

Spores

Dispersal
Protection
Survival
Reproduction.

Asexually-produced spores are disseminative.

Sexually-produced spores are reproductive
AND disseminative.

Asexually-Produced Spores
Spores are borne on hyphal tips called
Conidia (sing. Conidium) or in Sporangia
(sing. Sporangium).

Asexually-Produced Spores
Produced by Mitosis & Cell Division.
Clones (genetically-identical progeny) are
produced.

Sexually-Produced Spores
Spores are borne on unique and
specialized structures, depending on the
type of fungus.
Produced by Meiosis & Cell Division.
Genetically-unique progeny are produced.
Sexual Reproduction = combined genetic
contributions of two parents.
Life cycles.

Life Cycles
HAPLOID STAGE (1N)

MEIOSIS

FERTILIZATION

DIPLOID STAGE (2N)

Gametic Life Cycle

1N

2N

Gametic Life Cycle

Meiosis produces gametes (sperm or egg).

1N

2N

Zygotic Life Cycle

Meiosis produces spores (mini-zygotes).

1N
(Gametes here
produced by
Mitosis)

(Spores)

2N

Classification of Fungi

Classification of Fungi
Fungi comprise a monophyletic group
broken into 4 lineages (therefore also 4
Phyla):
Phylum: Chytridiomycota
Phylum: Zygomycota
Phylum: Ascomycota
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Phylum: Deuteromycota is an artificial group
representing fungi that do not or have yet to
exhibit a sexual stage (meiosis & syngamy).

Phylogeny of Fungi

Morphological
Character state
changes

Chytridiomycota (chytrids)

Chytridiomycota
Swimming Zoospores.

FUNGI

Zygomycota

The Bread Molds

Zygomycota
Sporangium (sporangia)
Asexual spores

Zygomycota
Zygospore
Sexual spore

(Suspensors)

Zygomycete Life Cycle

Glomeromycetes
Mycorrhizal Fungi
(Endomycorrhizal)
VAM fungi: Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae

FUNGI

Ascomycota

Morchella esculenta

The Sac Fungi

Ascomycota
Ascus (sac) is where the sexual spores
(Ascospores) are borne.
8 Ascospores are typical in each ascus.

Ascomycete
Life Cycle

FUNGI

Basidiomycota

The Club Fungi

Basidiomycota
Sexual Basidiospores borne on a Basidium.
4 spores per Basidium.
Basidiospores
Basidium

Basidiomycete Life Cycle

Studying FUNGI
Both Macroscopic and Microscopic
organisms.
Cultures
1-member, 2-member
Growth Media (sing. Medium)
Agar, Broth

Petri Plates or Culture Tubes.

Significance & Importance

1. Sources of important chemicals
Medicines.

Antibiotics like Penicillin, Cephalosporin.

Eastern Medicine, herbal remedies, anti-tumor, etc.

Metabolites

Plant growth hormones, steroids.

Mycotoxins, biological control agents.

Transformative enzymes.

Alcohol fermentation with CO2 production by

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast).
Cheese ripening, sausage production, miso

Significance & Importance

2. Food sources.

Mushrooms

Shiitake, Oyster, Porcini, Portobello, Morel, Truffle

Wild Mushrooms.Poisonings.

Cheeses, Miso, Beer, Wine, Bread.

Cultivationby humans and other animals.

3. Spiritual ceremony & shamanism.

Natives of Mexico & Central America hallucinogenic

religious rites involving Psilocybe cubensis. (more recently
studied by Wasson, McKenna, & others).
Mushroom effigies associated with many primitive (&
modern) cultures.

Significance & Importance

4. Ecosystem Contributions

Decomposers of cellulose, lignin (wood).

(often found in human-manufactured items)

Control of nutrient cycling.

Soil retention.
Mycorrhizal associations with plants.

5. Plant pathogens

Potato blight (Oomycete)

Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica)
Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma sp.)
Ergot of Rye (Claviceps purpurea)

Significance & Importance

6. Animal Pathogens

Insects (Oomycetes, Laboulbeniales,

Septobasidium).
Humans (mycoses)
Ringworm, histoplasmosis, yeast infections.

7. Scientific lab rats

Especially Genetics
Schizophyllum commune, Neurospora

THINK LIKE A FUNGUS

How do I get food?

How can I compete?
How can I protect myself?
What associations with other organisms
are important?