FUNGI

State Standards:

Fungi

1) Multicellular organisms that live on their food source.

Heterotrophic (can be decomposers)

DecomposersGet their energy from the remains of organic compounds.

Such as leaf litter, dead organisms

“Earth’s clean-up crew”

REMEMBER: bacteria also help with decomposing!

Can be Saprophytes

Fungi

2) Reproduce by forming spores.

Puffball releasing

Spores into the air.

Giant Puffball

Fungi

3) Grow by forming hyphae (threadlike extensions).

Fungi

Mycelium –

clump of hyphae.

Symbiotic Relationships?

A close relationship between two organisms where at least one benefits.

Examples: Nemo and the Sea Anemone

Fungi that help protect plant roots from drought

CAN BE MUTUALISTIC (+ +), COMMENSALISM (+ 0), or PARASITIC (+ -)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8 ANT KILLER

Question

If spores can travel great distances and hyphea can grow quickly, why are we not overrun by fungus?

Not all of the places that the spores land are suitable for growth

And few fungi live long enough to produce offspring

There are 3 main phyla of fungi:

Sporangium fungi

Club Fungi

Sac Fungi

Fungi are placed into these phyla based on the

structures they use to make spores.

Example: MOLDS

1- Sporangium Fungi

Rhizopus

Stachybatrus

Bread mold

Water mold

Cheese mold:

Blue, Roquefort,

Brie

1- Sporangium Fungi

The hyphae have SPORANGIA at the ends

Sporangium

Hyphae Mycelium

1- Sporangium Fungi

The hyphae have SPORANGIA at the ends

(round structures that produce spores).

Sporangium with

spores insideSporangium releasing

Spores

1- Sporangium Fungi

Hyphae

Sporangium

2- Club Fungi

Example:

MUSHROOMS

Corn Smut

Puffball

Puffball

Cross-section

Shelf

fungus

Coral Fungus

2- Club Fungi

b) Produce spores from club shaped sacs called basidia.

Cap

Stipe Gills

2- Club Fungi

2- Club Fungi

Basidia with spores

2- Club Fungi

Basidium

Spores

Cap

Stipe

Gills

3- Sac Fungi

Tuber magnatum truffle:

A delicacy @

$1,000-$2,000 per lb.

Mitrula paludosa

Cup fungi

Cramp ball

Example:

YEAST

Dead Man’s

FingersSome molds:

Penicillium

3- Sac Fungi

b) Produce spores inside a small sac called an

ASCUS.

An Ascus with

spores insideMany Asci

3- Sac Fungi

Yeast cells producing asci.

Asci

Lichens

1) A combination of a Fungus and an Algae living together.

Picture of lichen taken through

an electron microscope.

Algal cells Fungal cells

Lichens on ground

Lichens2) Have a mutualistic relationship (they help each other).

a) Fungus provides protection and a place for the algae to live.

b) Algae makes food for both to live on.

c) Pioneers – ultimately leading to a forest community – SUCCESSION

LICHENS!

Creditshttp://search.msn.com/images/details.aspx?q=basidia&color=both&size=1p&ht=277&wd=300&tht=118&twd=128&su=http%3a%2f%2fwww.math.tarleton.edu%2fcourses%2fbiolabs%2fPlant_Lab%2fLab_10-12%2fLab_12%2fcoprinus_basidia.htm&iu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.math.tarleton.edu%2fcourses%2fbiolabs%2fPlant_Lab%2fLab_10-12%2fLab_12%2fPictures%2fcoprinus_basidia.jpg&tu=http%3a%2f%2fimages.picsearch.com%2fis%3f6052023245612&sz=43