( = Economic _ Importance 29. of Fungi Fungi are non-chlorophyllous thallophytes. They ave found every activity in our daily life. Some fungi are useful to us and seem to be good friends. But, s tous, our animals, plants and useful materials. They are beliey e The important activities of fungi are 1. Beneficial activities 2. Harmful activities. 1. Beneficial A Several species of fungi are useful to us in many ways. enzymes, medicines, biocontrol agents and growth hor fungi are 1. Fungi as food 2. Fungi in industries 3. Fungi in pharmaceuticals 4. Fungi as biocontrol agents 5. Fungi in soil fertility 6. Fungi as the source of g 7. Fungi as test organismssa SEER Publicotion Daily intake of 100 ¢sked Se mushrooms meets the need of proteins, vitamins and minerals for an adult man. The FAO has recommended it for human use. There are about 100 5 acies of edible mushrooms. Of these, the following are cultivated in large scales for human cons »mption- Agaricus b porns (White button mushroom) Lemtimes © des apanese trushrogm) Jolvarielle volvacea (Paddy straw mushroom) Pleuronas » gor-caju (ladian oyster mushroom) Pleurotus « nC,i,,0, he simple sugars are then converted into ethyl alcohol and CO, by yeasts. Yeast C,H,,0, ——— 2C,H,0H #2C0, 3. Dairy Industry Some species of molds are used to ripen the fres fats in the cheese and add characteristic flavour to it. Per 4, Production of Organic Acids Many species of fungi are used in the com acids are metabolic intem ediates produced by the bio from fun aut cultures and put in various uses. 2. Fumaric acid 3.Gallic acid 4. Kojicacid §, Itaconic acid5. Production of Enzymes Some species of fungi produce certain enzymes in | 'solated trom the fungal culvures and put in different uses, Enzyme Fungus l.a-amylase Mucor rouxii large proportions. These enzymes are | ‘They are briefly mentioned here under: | Uses Beer-making, com syrup, fruit juice j Rhizopus japonicus extraction, paper pastes, detergent for | leather, | 2. Protease Aspergillus niger Cheese-making, dehairing agent, | Aspergillus oryzae recovering silver from photographic | films, chill-proofing agent in beverages. | 3. Pectinase Aspergillus niger Wine-making, fermenting the coffee beans, clarification of fruit juice. 4. Catalase Aspergillus niger Stabilizing agent in soft drinks, mene ~ ae from milk products. 5. Invertase Yeasts Hydrolysis of sucrose in soft drinks, 3. Fungi in Pharmaceuticals Several species of fungi yield antibiotics, steroids, vitamins. and protein supplements. Pharmaceutics are concemed with the manufacture of these products. Soe banaaccicaly valuable fungi and theirproducts are : e 1. Antibiotics 2. Steroids 3. Alkaloids 4. Vitamins 1. Antibiotics Antibiotic: concemed withANCE OF FUNC 3. Alkaloids The sclerotia of Claviceps purpurea are produced in t1e ovaries of cereals. They are colled ergot Ergot is rich in alkaloid called ergonovine. It s used for uterine contraction nx! haemorrhages (Oozing of blood from vessels). 4. Vitamins Yeasts are good source of vitamin B-complex. Ergosterol is a precursor of vitamin D. 1) produced in large proportions in some yeasts and molds. The SCPs (Single cell proteins) of | sucl) organisms prov‘de these vitamins to us. 4, Fungi as Biocontrol Agents Some fungi are antagonistic to some bacteria, nematodes and some are p Insects, pests ane! weeds. They are used as biocontrol agents to prevent the spreading of org which reduces the crop yield. . Many fungi attack insets} 3 ji fungi. They are used. , Fungus sauveria be Fusarium pallido Zoophthora rad Metarhizium a Verticillium lecaniiDOD! 2c 2 een, i joing wanted by leaching and preserve her iy Thus tung) keep the soll fertl at Sone fing) absorb mer anountol minerals ihoir cells, ‘Thin event prevent minarat teachings fron the soils andl inale the woul suitable for flange 6, Fungi as the Source of Growth Regulators wh regulators wich an aid, ylbhereltin, OHdnine oval fungi produce grow’ ‘betances ire olated from microbial cultures and used in Invitro and invivg ethylet he plant propagatio Auxins are growth regulators which promote the shoot elongaiion in plants, They produced by fungi sueh as A igrospord, Agarleus flavus, Rilzophora sinus, oe, Gibberellic aclds are growth regulators whone deficiency cauve shortening stunted growtl and seedless fruits, They are obtained from the cultures off Hla fijikuroi, Agaricus bisporus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium culmoruny, Cytokinins are degradi tion products of DNA, Their deficiency causes stunted growth 4 in plants. They can be obtained from yeasts, Ustllago exculanta, Amanita rubescons, Erwinia, amplovora, ole, 4 Eihylene is necessary for frult ripening. Kis produced in the cultures of Agaricus bispors, Mucor hiemalis, Neurospor.i crassa, Aspergillus candidus, ete, 7. Fungi as Test Organisms Several fungi have been used as research tools in modern biology to understand life processes. urospora sitophila is used in genetic studies. Yeasts are used in biochemical J studies. Aypenvildus niger is used to detect trace elements in liquids. * Many fangi are vs ed * Mushrooms are ox © Fungi ate used asisou industrial produc # Yeast is used for l * In brewing induse of yeasts, | ® Penicillium camein * Penicillium roquel\NCE OF FUNGI cies of fungi produce ‘antibiotics, steroids, vitamins and protein Gil CIMi Js eral sp Nement “ ibiotics. mm a -yeral fungi are concerned with production of antibiotic © Penicillium notatum produces pen ill Aspervillus fumigatus produces fumagutn. : eer scosides and make steroids. Some fungi ferment the plant gly n ae sla © Rhizopus nigricans and Aspergillus niger produce digitoxin and digitolin. * Claviceps purpurea produces an alkaloid called ergonovine. © Ergonoyine is used for uterine contraction and haemorrhages. * Yeastsiare good source of vitamin-B complex. Some fungi are used for biological contorl * Fusarium pallidoroseum is used to control cowpea aphids. © Zoopkthora radicans is used to control insect larvae in rice fields. * Many fungi keep the soil fertile and make the soil farm everal fungi produce growth regulators such asa d ethylene. 7 * Agaricus flavus and Rhizophora sinus produce: * Amanita rubescens and Erwinea amylovoi * Mucor hiemalis and Neurospora crassa pr -veral fungi nave been used as research too | | | inthem. Some of them spoil our foods, textiles a 1. Theharmfulactivities of fungi are |. Human diseases 2. Plant disease 3. Animal diseases 4. Food spoilage 5. Mycotoxicosis 6. Spoilage of fabrics 7. Wood rotting fungi 1. Human Diseases Many fungi infect man and cause Disease Dermatomycosis AFB&PL-29Tic hophytons SPs. Superficial Haw Mallassezia firfur myvosis J Subcutaneous: Helow the skin Sporotrichum § inyeosis Systemic mycosis Allover the body Histoplasme Cryptococossis Nervous system Aspergillosis Langs: Histoplasmosis Liver, lungs, spleen 2. Plant Diseases Several parasitic flungi cause diseases in crop plants and reduce th diseases include smuts, rusts, blig s, rots and mildews, Exam Disease Crop Fungus Late blight Potato ‘Loose smut Wh Stem rust Wheat Tikka disease Groundnut Red rot Sugareane Damping off Tobacco Downy mildew Bajra Ergot Rye 3. Animal Diseases Many fungi cause kam) di 4. Food Spoilage ome fungi make the foods useless, bad and Italters the chemical properties, appea stability of food items. Fungi are involving in the spo Spoilage Moldy growth, ropy texture Syrups Moldy growth, yeasty odour Fraits and Moldy rots vegetables Pickles Yeast filmy Cured meat Moldy growth 5. Mycotoxicosis Pood poisoning de called mycotoxins. They food. Examples:a 439 (Chap.29 : ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI Fungus Toxin Disvase Aspergillus flavus Aflatoxin, Hepatoma and Carcinoma Penicillium rubrum Rubratoxin Liver diseas» Amanita phalloides Amatoxin Liver disease and Hypoglycemia. #6. Spoilage of Fabrics i Cellulase producing fungi such as Chaetomium and Memmoniella destroy cotton, ; canvas, etc. They change the colour and odour of the fabries, Aternaria sps. and Fusarium sps. badly damage the wool. Penicillum and Aspergillus damage the books, leathers, shoes, etc. Wood Rotting Fungi : © Fungi such as Poria, Polyporus, Fomes and Ganoderma attack forest trees and felled © woods and cause wood rot. It reduces the usefulness and marketing value of the wood. r Morphology Of Common Edible Mushrooms There are about 100 species of edible mushroomsall 0 worl 0 ® species are cultivated in commercial scale in India. They isp § wlvaceaand Pleurotus sajor-caju. Distinguishing fea © and Plewrotus are given in the table. ‘ Table 29-1: Distinctive features of Agaricus, f | No ] Agaricus Vovariella | 1. | Umbrelia-shaped Umbrella-sha | fruitbody fruit body 2. | Pileusis 5-10 ems Pileusis 6-12 diameter. > indiameter 3. | Pinkorbrown Pink colored . coloured gills gills é 4, Stipe is central Stipe is central f and long, and long. i 5. | Annulus present Annulusis abs f on the stipe. BE] 6 | Vulvazbsent Acup- E persistent yul Ea: Agar- Eg. Yolvari } icus bisporus volvace™ | * Agaricus bispor var bisporus and Agaricus Agaricus compestris, brunnescens, 1