Fungal Characteristics

Eukaryotic
Most are Multicellular and some are unicellular.
Heterotrophic
Absorb nutrients - may be saprobes (absorb from
dead material), parasites, or mutualistic symbionts
(with algae make lichen).
Secrete powerful hydrolytic enzymes.
Cell walls contain chitin, an amino sugar
polysaccharide also found in arthropod
exoskeletons
Lack flagella

Morphology
Molds
filamentous fungi
hyphae (s., hypha)
the filaments of a mold
may be coenocytic (no cross walls) or have
septa (cross walls)

mycelium (pl. mycelia)

bundles or tangled masses of hyphae

Yeasts
unicellular fungi
reproduce asexually, often by budding
reproduce sexually by formation of
spores
Many pathogenic fungi are dimorphic,
forming hyphae at ambient temperatures
but yeasts at body temperature.

 Pseudohyphae
Some species of fungi produce buds
that
characteristically
failed
to
detach
and
become
elongated
continuation of the budding process
then produces a chain of elongated
yeast cells