FUNGIA fungus is among us!

Fungi: Plural of “fungus”

What are fungi? Fungi are eukaryotic

consumers, but they are so different from other organisms that they are placed in their own kingdom.

They come in a variety of shapes and colors, but all have a similar way of obtaining and producing food

Food for Fungi

Bird’s Nest Fungus

Fungi are consumers But they cannot eat of engulf

food. Most fungi obtain nutrients by

secreting digestive juices onto a food source, then absorbing the dissolved substance.

Many fungi are decomposers. This means they feed on dead animal or plant matter.

What good are they? Fungi are decomposers.

They are also used in the world of food.

Turn to the person next to you and do your best to describe a world without fungi….go!

You wouldn’t have: Mushrooms on pizza or on

other foods There would be no leavened

bread (bread that rises) No penicillin (antibiotics) No bleu cheese Huge amount of dead

organic matter would collect and probably not go away.

What are Fungi made up of? Multicellular fungi are

made up of chains of cells called Hyphae.

The hyphae grow together to form a twixted mass called the Mycelium which usually grows underground

Mycelium

Mycelium on a piece of rotting wood

Fungi Reproduction Do you know

anyone who has allergies to molds?

What environments do mold-sensitive individuals want to stay away from?

Caves Damp basements Damp soil Leaf litter Other decaying

organic matter.

Asexual or Sexual?

Asexual Sexual Reproduction

In asexual reproduction , the hyphae break off and each new piece becomes a new individual.

Spores Spores: are small

reproductive cells protected by a thick cell wall.

Easily spread by the wind When special structures

form to make sex cells, these cells join to produce sexual spores that grow into a new fungus

Threadlike Fungi

Molds

Molds are shapeless fuzzy fungi.

Belong to the group called Threadlike fungi.

Sac Fungi Sac Fungi form the

largest group of fungi. Includes yeast, powdery mildews, truffles, and morels.

Sexual Reproduction in these fungi involves the formation of a sac called ascus.

During their lifecycles, sac fungi usually reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Sac Fungi

Morels White Truffle

How are Truffles Found? With Pigs…of

course!

Usefulness to Humans Yeast: used in

making breadYeast uses sugars as

food and produce carbon dioxide gas and alcohol as waste products.

Trapped bubbles of Carbon Dioxide cause the dough to rise and make bread light and fluffy.

Club Fungi The umbrella

shaped fungi, also the most commonly known type of fungi are called club fungi.

White Destroying AngelOne taste is fatal.

Mushrooms: Not the only club fungi!

Bracket fungi: look like shelves on trees. Spores are found on the underside of bracket.

This corn is infected with a club fungus called smut

Lichens

Jewel Lichen

A Lichen is a combination of fungus and an alga that grow intertwined.

The alga actually grows inside the protective walls of the fungus.

This is called a symbiotic relationship. It is mutually beneficial to

both species.

Lichens

Fruticose Lichen British Soldier Lichen