Definitions

Mycologists--scientists who study

fungi
Mycology--scientific discipline
dealing with fungi
Mycoses--diseases caused in
animals by fungi
 What is a fungus?
A eukaryotic, heterotrophic organism
devoid of chlorophyll that obtains its
nutrients by absorption, and reproduces
by spores.
The primary carbohydrate storage
product of fungi is glycogen.
Most fungi have a thallus composed of
hyphae (sing. hypha) that elongate by
tip growth
The fungal thallus consists of hyphae; a mass of
hyphae is a mycelium.
Structure of fungi
The Characteristics of Fungi
Fungi are NOT plants

Hyphae = tubular units of construction

Heterotrophic by absorption
Reproduce by spores
Ecologically pivotal roles
 Hyphae
Tubular
Hard wall of chitin
Cross walls may
form compartments
(± cells)
Multinucleate
Grow at tips
Heterotrophic by Absorption
Fungi get carbon from organic sources
Hyphal tips release enzymes
Enzymatic breakdown of substrate
Products diffuse back into hyphae

Nucleus hangs back

and “directs”

Product diffuses back

into hypha and is used
 Hyphal growth
Hyphae grow from their tips
Mycelium = extensive, feeding web of hyphae
Mycelia are the ecologically active bodies of
fungi
This wall is rigid Only the tip wall is plastic and stretches
 Hyphal growth from spore

germinating
spore

mycelium
Reproduce by spores
Spores are reproductive cells
Sexual
Asexual
Formed: Pilobolus sporangia
Directly on hyphae
Inside sporangia
Fruiting bodies

Amanita fruiting body Penicillium hyphae

 Kingdom Fungi

Nutritional Type Chemoheterotroph

Multicellularity All, except yeasts

Cellular Arrangement Unicellular, filamentous, fleshy

Food Acquisition Method Absorptive

Characteristic Features Sexual and asexual spores

Embryo Formation None

 Fungi are ancient
Major fungal lineages are ancient,
perhaps emerging one billion
years ago
Fungi were present before the
emergence of animals and
vascular plants
Hierarchical Classification

Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Class Basidiomycetes
Order Agaricales
Family Agaricaceae
Genus Agaricus
Species:
Agaricus campestris L.
 Black molds
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Fungi (Mycota)
Phylum/Division: Ascomycota
(Subphylum: Pezizomycotina)
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Eurotiales
Family: Trichocomaceae
Genus: Aspergillus
Species: A. niger
 How many species of fungi exist?

- 80,000 species of fungi

described
- 1,700 new species
described each year
 Reasons why it is not easy to
classify fungi
Fungi comprise of a broad number of
organisms.
Fungi have various forms depending on
the environment and conditions in which
they grow.
Many terms being used to describe the
morphological structures of fungi.
Basic Characteristics and
Life Cycles

Ascomycota (inc.Deuteromycetes)
Basidiomycota
Zygomycota
Mitosporic Fungi (Fungi
Imperfecti)
 Ascomycota – “sac fungi”
Teleomorphic fungi
Produce sexual and
asexual spores
Cup fungi, morels, truffles
Important plant parasites
& saprobes
Yeast - Saccharomyces
Septate
Asexual-conidiosphores

A cluster of asci with spores inside

Basidiomycota – “club fungi”
Produce basidiospores and
sometimes conidiospores
Sexual – basidia
Asexual – not so common
Rusts & smuts – primitive plant
parasites
Septate
Mushrooms, polypores,
puffballs
Enzymes decompose wood
Mycorrhizas
SEM of basidia and spores
 Zygomycota – “zygote fungi”
Conjugation fungi
Coenocytic
Sexual- zygosporangia
Asexual - common
Produce sporangiospores and
zygospores
Hyphae have no cross walls
Grow rapidly
Rhizopus, Mucor (opportunistic,
systemic mycoses) Rhizopus on
Mycorrhizas strawberries