Fungi cell wall strengthened by chitin

- heterotrophs (decomposer, parasites, mutualists)

-muticellular filaments or yeasts (single cells)
*hyphae forms a mass called mycelium
- tubular cell walls surrounding the plasma membrane & cytoplasm of cells
-network of tiny filaments
-chitin cell wall enhance feeding by absorption
-septate or coenocytic
specialized hyphae
1. haustoria used to extract nutrients from host
2. mycorrhiza (fungus roots) improve delivery of phosphate ions and minerals to the
plant
a. ectomycorrhiza- form sheaths of hyphae over root surface
b. arbuscular mycorrhiza extend branching hyphae through root cell wall &
into tubes of the root plasma membrane
*spores form new mycelia after germination
- produced through sexual or asexual life cycles
A. Sexual reproduction
-mycelia of different mating types release pheromones. Their hyphae fuse (process called
plasmogamy: cells are in heterokaryotic stage). Then the nuclei fuse (karyogamy). Zygote is formed.
-meiosis restores haploid condition
-generate extensive genetic variation
B. Asexual reproduction
- molds grow rapidly & produce spores
-reproduction of yeasts occur by ordinary cell division
*deuteromycota- no known sexual stage

Classification of Fungi
Chytrids habitat: lakes & soils
globular fruiting body forms a multicellular branched hyphae
flagellated spores
ex. Chytridium
Zygomycota nutrition: decomposers, parasites
grow rapidly on food
coenocytic hyphae, septa found only where reproductive cells are formed
zygosporangia- metabolically inactive; heterokaryotic, then diploid
ex. Mucor

Glomeromycota form arbuscular mycorrhizae with plant roots

filamentous, branched hyphae
tips of hyphae that push into the root branch into tree-like arbuscules
Ascomycota (sac fungi)
sexual stage: cup-shaped ascocarp (fruiting body) that contain spore-forming asci
asexual: production of spores in sac-like asci
habitat: marine, freshwater, terrestrial
nutrition: pathogenic, decomposers
life cycle: extended dikaryotic mycelium stage opportunity for genetic recombination
ex. Aleuria aurantia
Basidiomycota (club fungi)
nutrition: decomposers, ectomycorrhizal fungi
mushroom/basidiocarp (fruiting bodies)

Fungi are:
1. Decomposers
- cellulose & lignin in plant cell walls
- responsible for keeping ecosystems stocked with inorganic nutrients essential for plant
growth
2. Mutualists
a. Fungus-Plant mutualisms
mycorrhizal fungi nitrogen-fixing fungi
endophytes (ascomycota) defense against pathogens
b. Fungus-Animal mutualisms help breakdown plant material in the gut of animals
c. Lichens symbiosis between a photosynthetic microorganism & a fungus
- grow on surfaces of rock, rotting logs, trees
microorganism (cyanobacteria, green algae) + fungi: ascomycete
asexual: fragmentation of parental lichen or formation of soredia (small clusters
of hyphae with embedded algae)
forms: crustose, foliose, fruticose
3. Parasites
a. Plant pathogens
Cryphonectria parasitica (ascomycota) causes chestnut blight (fungus enters
cracks in the bark of chestnut trees & form hyphae inside)
Fusarium circinatum (ascomycota) cause pine pitch canker
b. Animal pathogens
Claviceps purpurea (ascomycota) grows on rye plants & form ergots (purple

structures); toxins in ergots [lysergic acid] cause ergotism in humans (gangrene,

nervous spasms, burning sensations, hallucination, temporary insanity)
Bastrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid) cause severe skin infections in
amphibians

*Mycosis infection in an animal by a fungal parasite

skin mycosis (i.e. ringworm)
systematic mycosis
- ex. Coccidiomycosis cause tuberculosis
- ex. Candida albicans cause yeast infection in vaginal lining

*Practical uses of fungi

decomposers of organic material

Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast for bread and brew
Penicillium (ascomycota) first antibiotic; penicillin