The Kingdom of Fungi

Gretchen Harrigan

6th period

3/31/10

What are Fungi?

• Fungi are living organisms that are distantly related to plants, and more closely related to animals, but rather different from either of

those groups. • The cells of fungi contain nuclei with chromosomes (like plants and

animals, but unlike bacteria).

• Fungi cannot photosynthesize (they are heterotrophic, like animals)

• Fungi absorb their food. Most get there nutrients from decaying matter in the soil.

Structure

• The main body of most fungi is made up of fine threads called hyphae.

• Each fungus will have vast numbers of these hyphae, all intertwining to make up a tangled web called the mycelium.

• Hyphae may contain internal cross walls, that divide the hyphae into separate cells, some hyphae lack cross walls.

• The cross walls of many fungi allows cytoplasm to flow freely from one cell to the next.

• Cytoplasmic movement within the hypha provides a means to transport of materials.

• Fungi have cell walls (like plants) but the cell walls are composed of chitin

Function

• Life on Earth could not exist without fungi • Fungi are essential for

1. Proper plant root function

2. Breaking down dead organic material into simple compounds that plants can absorb.

● Fungi is also used for human use such as: Antibiotics, Cultured foods, Medical use, and pest control.

Bibliography