Hyphae Definition

Hypha can grow branching to form a net, this form is called mycelium. In a colony of fungi there
are hyphae that spread and there are hyphae upright. Usually this upright hyphae produces the
breeding tools called spores, whereas the spreading hyphae serves to absorb nutrients from substrate
and support the reproduction apparatus. The radiating hyphae is called a hyphae vegetative and
upright hyphae are called fertile hyphae. The growth of hyphae progresses constantly in the apical
part, so the length can not be determined on a set basis certainly. The diameter of the hyphae
generally ranges from 3 to 30 μm. Different types of fungi have different diameter hyphae and the
size of the diameter may be affected by environmental

 Septate
Divided into cells by crosswalls called septa. Pores in the septa allow organelles to
move from cell to cell. When new cells bud at the apex of the hypha, a septhum does
not form immediately. As the new cells mature, the cell wall grows down into the
cytoplasm, forming the septum. Member of the classes Basidiomycetes and
Ascomycetes form septate hyphae

 Aseptate (coenocytic hyphae)

Lacking cross walls and are coenocytic, formed from repeated nuclear division
without cytokinesis. They are the more primitive form of hyphae. Most fungi with
coenocytic hyphae belong to the class Zygomycotes. Whyle they do not form septa
between nuclei, they do form a septum at branch points that connect one filament to
another, preventing the entire network from being compromised if one hypha is
injured
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Hyphae Function
Hyphae are associated with multiple different functions, depending on the specific
requirements of each fungal species. The following are a list of the most commonly known
hyphae functions:
1. Nutrient Absorption from a Host
Some hyphae of parasitic fungi are specialized for nutrient absorption within a specific
host. These hyphae have specialized tips called haustoria, which penetrate the cell walls of
plants or tissues of other organisms in order to obtain nutrients.
2. Nutrient Absorption from Soil
Some fungal species (e.g., mycorrihizae) have developed a symbiotic relationship with
vascular plant species. The fungi forms specialized hyphae called arbuscules, which can be
found in the roots or phylum of vascular plants, and function to absorb nutrients and water
from the soil. In this manner, the hyphae aid the plants by increasing its access to nutrients in
the soil while facilitating its own growth.
3. Trapping Structures
In some fungal species, hyphae have evolved into specialized nematode-trapping
structures, using nets and ring structures to trap nematode species.
4. Nutrient Transportation
Several fungal species exhibit hyphae composed of chord-like structures, termed mycelial
chords, which are used by fungi (e.g., lichens and mushrooms) to transport nutrients across
great distances.
Modification of hyphal
 Hyphae may be modified in may different ways to serve specific functions. Some
parasitic fungi form haustoria that function in absorption within the host cells. Haustorium:
A simple or branched projection of hyphae into the host cells that acts as an absorbing organ
1. Arbuscule: A branched tuft-like haustorium, produced by certain mycorrhizal fungi
inside root cells.
2. Hyphopodium: a specialized hyphal branch, composed of one or two usually lobed
cells, serving for attachment and for the absorption of food. Some ectophytic fungi attacking
leaves of green plants produce hyphopodia. e.g. Meliola palmicola. Hyphae are found
enveloping the gonidia in lichens, making up a large part of their structure.
3. Snares: Special trap like structure of predacious fungi to capture small animals such
as protozoa and nematodes. There are several types of snares such as: Sticky branches, sticky
network, sticky knobs, constricting rings, non-constricting rings etc. In nematodetrapping
fungi, hyphae may be modified into trapping structures such as constricting rings and
adhesive nets.e.g. Arthrobotrys oligospora is a nematophagous fungus which produces
constricting rings
4. Rhizoids are small branching hyphae that grow downwards from the stolons that
anchor the fungus to the substrate, where they release digestive enzymes and absorb digested
organic material.
5. Stolon: Stolon is defined as an occasionally aerial hypha, which connects
sporangiophores together. The stolon is commonly found in bread molds, and are seen as
horizontally expanding across the mold. e.g. Rhizopus stolonifer.
6. Rhizomycelium: an aggregation of gradually attenuated hyphal branches (as in the
fungi of the family Cladochytriaceae) having fertile regions developed at various points.e.g.
Chytriomyces hyalinus.
7. Appressorium :An appressorium is a flattened, hyphal "pressing" organ, from
which a minute infection peg grows that facilitates attachment and penetration of the host by
a fungus.
8. Clamp connection: A bridge like hyphal connection characteristics of the secondary
mycelium of many Basidiomycota; involved in maintaining the dikaryotic condition.

References
 ricker et al. (2017). The Mycelium as a Network. Microbiol Spectr. 5(3): doi:
10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0033-2017.
 Journal of Unila
 Surendranathcollege.org/