The Fungus Kingdom

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The Fungus Kingdom
2
Welcome to the Fungus Kingdom!

• Activity Watch this video clip and write down
  all the different references made to fungi
• Fungus Among Us Video Clip OR
• THINK!
• What types of fungi were mentioned in the clip?
• Which fungi were beneficial and which were
  harmful?

3
Characteristics of Fungi

• All fungi share the following characteristics
• All fungi have a nucleus
• All fungi are heterotrophic
• All fungi reproduce by spores
• Characteristics of Fungi Video Clip
• THINK! What were 2 characteristics the video
  clip mentioned that I didnt?
• Most fungi are multicellular YEAST are
  Unicellular
• Fungi have cell walls and they are made of CHITIN
• (unlike plants whose cell walls are made
  of CELLULOSE).

4
Structure of Fungi

• The bodies of fungi are made up of cell
  structures called hyphae.
• Hyphae are threadlike tubes filled with
  cytoplasm, a nucleus, surrounded by a cell
  wall.
• Hyphae can be arranged in different ways
• Fuzzy looking molds have loose hyphae
• Mushrooms have tightly packed hyphae. They are
  packed so tightly it looks solid.
• Hyphae can form a large, tangled web called the
  mycelium. This mycelium can spread out very far
  and is usually hidden in the soil, wood, or
  other food source.

5
Lets Take a Look at Fungus Structure!

• Structure of Fungi Video Clip

6
Obtaining Food

• Fungi are heterotrophs meaning that they must
  seek out their food.
• Fungi feed by absorbing food through their
  hyphae.
• They do not have stomachs.
• They must externally digest their food.
• To do this, fungi secrete acids and enzymes from
  the hyphae to help break down the food so it can
  be absorbed.

THINK! Do you know what these mushrooms
are called?
These are called fairy ring mushrooms. They can
be found on lawns where the underground mycelium
is absorbing nutrient from the soil. When the
fungus uses up its food supply in one location,
the mycelium spreads out and looks for more food.
This causes a ring to form.
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Obtaining Food

• Fungi have several ways to obtain their food
• Some are decomposers feeding on dead organic
  material like leaves. Fairy ring mushrooms are
  decomposers.
• Some fungi are parasites causing diseases by
  using living organisms for food. Athletes foot
  and ringworm are two fungal diseases in humans.

8
Obtaining Food

• Even still, other fungi can live in an extremely
  beneficial relationships with other organisms.
  This is called symbiosis.
• A lichen is an association between fungi and
  algae.
• The algae gives the fungi food from
  photosynthesis.
• The fungi gives the algae protection, water, and
  minerals.

9
Relationships between Fungi and Other Organisms!

• Relationships Between Fungi and Other Organisms
  Video Clip
• Leaf Cutter Ants and Fungus Video Clip
• Watch how the ants and the fungus benefit each
  other

FAST FACT Next time you see this fungus on a
tree trunk, you will know what it is!
10
Reproduction in Fungi

• Fungi reproduce by lightweight spores
• Spores are easily carried by wind or water
• Only a few of the thousands of spores produced
  will grow into a new organism
• Fungi produce spores in fruiting bodies
• Mushrooms The entire part you see is the
  fruiting body
• Bread Molds Stalks grow upward and release
  spores

Mushrooms spores
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Reproduction in Fungi

• Asexual Reproduction
• When enough moisture exists, fungi reproduce
  asexually by releasing spores
• Unicellular yeast reproduce asexually by budding
• Sexual Reproduction
• In sexual reproduction, the hyphae of two fungi
  grow together. A new spore producing structure
  grows from the joined hyphae and produces spores
  that differ from each parent.

12
Classification of Fungi

• Threadlike Fungi
• Produces spores in their threadlike hyphae
• Also called zygote fungi
• These spores are resistant to harsh conditions
• Examples
• bread molds
• Fruit molds
• Threadlike Fungi Video Clip

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Classification of Fungi

• Sac Fungi
• Produces spores in structures that look like sacs
• Examples
• Yeast
• Morels
• Truffles
• Sac Fungi Video Clip

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Classification of Fungi

• Club Fungi
• Produce spores in structures that look like clubs
• Examples
• 25,000 species of mushrooms
• Bracket Fungi
• Puffballs
• Club Fungi Video Clip

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Classification of Fungi

• Imperfect Fungi
• This group of fungi are not known to reproduce
  sexually
• Examples
• Penicillium
• Imperfect Fungi Video Clip

THINK! What is held in the finger-like
structures?
Spores