Knowledge University

College of Science-DLMS- Level 4

L. 2 - (Introduction-2)
Medical mycology 2020/2021

Dr.Salah M. Saleem

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Hierarchical Classification(ranks)
a system in which people or things
are arranged according to their importance
Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Class Basidiomycetes
Order Agaricales
Family Agaricaceae
Genus Agaricus
Species:
Agaricus campestris L.
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 Classification of fungi:

• What is the meaning of classification?

• Fungi were initially classified with plants and
were a subject of interest for botanists.
• Hence the influence of botany can be seen on
their classification.
• In 1969 R.H Whittaker classified all living
organisms into five kingdoms namely
Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.

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• The origin of Fungi
• Some mycologists are of opinion that:
(1)The fungi have evolved from algae by loss of chlorophyll. If
this is true, the fungi are plants and are properly placed in the
‘plant kingdom’. Mycologists of other school of thought,
believe that:

(2)The fungi had a common ancestry (origin), with the protozoa

but split off at a very early stage of organic evolution. If this is
true, the fungi are neither plants nor animals - they are fungi.

• Ainsworth (1971) in his dictionary of fungi treated the fungi as a

separate and independent Kingdom.

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 Kingdom Fungi

Eumycota Myxomycota single

class Myxomycetes

Motile cells Motile cells

(zoospores) absent
present/perfect
spore oospore

Perfect stage Perfect stage

present absent
Sub-division
Mastigomycotina Deuteromycetes
Plate 6

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 perfect stage present

Perfect spore perfect spore Perfect spore

Zygospore ascospore basidiospore

Sub-division
Sub-division Sub-division
Basidiomycete
Zygomycetes Ascomycetes
s

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 Ascomycetes
perfect p./
.motile ab

Mastigomycotina Basidiomycetes
perfect p. .perfect p
.motile p . motile ab

Eumycota

Hyphomycetes Zygomycetes
.Perfect ab .Perfect p
.Motile ab .Motile ab

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• Reproduction in fungi:
Fungi reproduce by asexual, sexual and parasexual means.
Asexual reproduction is the commonest mode in most fungi
with fungi participating in sexual mode only under certain
circumstances.
The form of fungus undergoing asexual reproduction is
known as anamorph (or imperfect stage or …?) and when
the same fungus is undergoing sexual reproduction, the
form is said to be teleomorph (or ... stage).
In parasexual The process involves genetic recombination
without the requirement of specific sexual structures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Fg5M2YVho https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhKwYJWF4iY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-xo_Sd_QDY

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• Asexual reproduction:
Asexual propagules are termed either spores or conidia
depending on their mode of production. Asexual spores are
produced following mitosis where a sexual spores are
produced following meiosis.
• The asexual spores of zygomycetes, which are known as
sporangiospores form within sac like structure known as
sporangia.
•

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Spores of Hyphomycetes called (conidia-plu.), they are differ in shape, size,
color, no. of cells, etc….. Conidia is important in classification of
hypomycetes. (Dermatophytes are Hy[homycetes)

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 Review questions & activiteis
Q1/ WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ARE TRUE?
a /Sporangiospore is a sexual spore.
• b/ Asexual spores are produced following meiosis .
• c/ Conidia in hyphomycetes are important to fungal nutrition
• d/ All Hyphomycetes are dermatophytes.
• Q2/ Name the groups of eumycota and their characteristics.
• Q3/ Define: deuteromycetes;

• Q4/FARTHER READING
• a/ Write a report (100 words) about parasexual reproduction in
fungi (meaning, importance, examples).
• b/ What is the deference between taxonomy and classification?

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