Two mushrooms get invited to a party

1
Two mushrooms get invited to a party

• Because they are fungis..

2
Role of Fungi in Nature

• They are THE decomposers
• Heterotrophs, obtain food by extra-cellular
  digestion
• Secrete enzymes onto their food and adsorb the
  molecules

3
Structure

• Basic element is the hypha (hyphae)
• Long filament-like cells can have several nuclei
• Cottony mass of hyphae is a mycelium
• This is the digestion organ
• Mycelium makes a fruiting body (mushroom) when
  conditions are right

4
Classification

• Based on life cycles
• There are five phyla
• Zygomycetes (bread molds)
• Ascomycetes (mildews, molds, truffles and yeasts)
• Basidiomycetes (mushrooms, puff balls, bracket
  fungi, rusts)
• Chytridomycota (aqautic decomposers)
• Deuteromycetes (Imperfect fungi)

5
Life cycle of bread mold

• Life cycle of bread mold (handout)
• Also see page 620

6
Reproduction

• Asexual and Sexual reproduction is used
• Asexual
• Produce spores or hyphae fragments
• Blown by the wind and germinate in suitable spot
• Sexual
• Hyphae of opposite mating types fuse
• Nuclei fuse and undergo meiosis
• Haploid spores are produced

7
Yeast

• Not a typical ascomycetes because the fruiting
  body is very tiny
• What do we use yeasts for?

8
Mushrooms

• The above ground structure of the basidiomycetes
• The gills underneath contain the spores
• Each mushroom contains about 1 million spores
• Mycelium underground can be several meters in
  diameter
• The Fairy Ring (or Circle)

9
Fungi Imperfect

• Only use asexual reproduction
• Athletes foot, ringworm and penicillin

10
Lichens

• Example of mutualism (symbiotic beneficial
  relationship)
• Fungus and Algae together grow on trees and
  rocks
• Fungus gives water and minerals from the surface
  its on
• Algae gives photosynthesis (organic substances)
• Diagram on page 623