FUNGUS

ORGANISM

FUNGI
Body structure, Definition, Types & Facts
 Definition

» Fungi are eukaryotic organisms; i.e., their cells

contain membrane-bound organelles and
clearly defined nuclei. Historically, fungi were
included in the plant kingdom; however,
because fungi lack chlorophyll and are
distinguished by unique structural and
physiological features (i.e., components of the 
cell wall and cell membrane), they have been
separated from plants.

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 FORM AND FUNCTION OF FUNGI

Size range
» The mushrooms, because of their size, are easily
seen in fields and forests and consequently were
the only fungi known before the invention of the 
microscope in the 17th century. The microscope
made it possible to recognize and identify the
great variety of fungal species living on dead or
live organic matter. The part of a fungus that is
generally visible is the fruiting body, or 
sporophore. Some mushrooms reach a diameter
of 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 inches) and a height of 25
Bracket fungi, which grow on tree trunks, are
to 30 cm (10 to 12 inches). Bracket, or shelf, fungi among some of the largest fungi. Some species
can reach 40 cm (16 inches) or more in diameter. may reach 40 cm (16 inches) in diameter.

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 IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI

» Humans have been indirectly aware of fungi since

the first loaf of leavened bread was baked and the
first tub of grape must was turned into wine.
Ancient peoples were familiar with the ravages of
fungi in agriculture but attributed these diseases
to the wrath of the gods. The Romans designated
a particular deity, Robigus, as the god of rust and,
in an effort to appease him, organized an annual
festival, the Robigalia, in his honour.

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 Mushrooms

While mushrooms and toadstools (poisonous mushrooms) are

by no means the most numerous or economically significant
fungi, they are the most easily recognized. The Latin word for 
mushroom, fungus (plural fungi), has come to stand for the
whole group. Similarly, the study of fungi is known as 
mycology—a broad application of the Greek word for
mushroom, mykēs. Fungi other than mushrooms are
sometimes collectively called molds, although this term is
better restricted to fungi of the sort represented by 
bread mold. (For information about slime molds, which exhibit
features of both the animal and the fungal worlds, see protist.)
porcini mushroom
Edible porcini mushrooms (Boletus edulis).
Porcini mushrooms are widely distributed in the
Northern Hemisphere and form symbiotic
associations with a number of tree species.

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Basic Morphology

A typical fungus consists of a mass of branched, tubular filaments

enclosed by a rigid cell wall. The filaments, called hyphae (singular
hypha), branch repeatedly into a complicated, radially expanding
network called the mycelium, which makes up the thallus, or
undifferentiated body, of the typical fungus. The mycelium grows by
utilizing nutrients from the environment and, upon reaching a certain
stage of maturity, forms—either directly or in special fruiting bodies—
reproductive cells called spores.

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Structure of the thallus

In almost all fungi the hyphae that make up

the thallus have cell walls. (The thalli of the
true slime molds lack cell walls and, for this
and other reasons, are classified as protists
rather than fungi.) A hypha is a multibranched
tubular cell filled with cytoplasm.

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Structure of the thallus

The tube itself may be either continuous throughout or

divided into compartments, or cells, by cross walls called septa
(singular septum). In nonseptate (i.e., coenocytic) hyphae the
nuclei are scattered throughout the cytoplasm. In septate
hyphae each cell may contain one to many nuclei, depending on
the type of fungus or the stage of hyphal development.

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Structure of the thallus

The cells of fungi are similar in structure to those of many

other organisms. The minute nucleus, readily seen only in
young portions of the hypha, is surrounded by a double
membrane and typically contains one nucleolus. In addition to
the nucleus, various organelles—such as the 
endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, ribosomes, and
liposomes—are scattered throughout the cytoplasm.

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 Basic structure of fungis
Hyphae, Mycelium and Fruiting body
Hyphae are long thread like structures which form the fungal
body. They consist of tubular cell wall made of chitin. They
contain cytoplasm and nuclei. Hyphae are divided into cells with
internal cross-walls called ‘septa’. These septa have perforated
pores to allow the movement of cytoplasm, ribosomes, and
mitochondria.
Cluster of hyphae interconnect and bundle up into a mycelium.
Growth always occurs in the tip of the mycelium so it continues to
grow until they cover the food source completely. They also
absorb the nutrients and produce fruiting bodies.
» Fruiting body produces spores which are involved in fungal
reproduction. They are produced on the surface of the food
source which allows the spores to be easily carried by wind,
water, etc. Fruiting body is the only part of fungus that is
visible to naked eye. Excellent examples of fruiting body are
mushrooms, which is the part of fungus that produces spores.

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Thank you for your time everyone and
have a good one

Made by:
Petar Bozinoski
Eva Bimbiloska
Natalija Tockova
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