Fungi

• Eukaryotes (have cell walls)

• Hyphae- threadlike tubes that make up the bodies of multicellular fungi. (pg. 479)

Where are they Found?

• Fungi need warm moist places to survive.

- moist food

- damp tree bark

- wet grass

- wet bathroom tiles

Reproduction

• Use spores to reproduce. (most commonly)

• Fruiting Bodies- where spores are produced.

• Budding-small cell grows from parent cell, breaks off, lives on own.

Role in Nature

• Environmental Recycling (decomposers)

• Food– Yeast, mushrooms, blue cheese

• Fights Diseases (penicillin)

• Causes disease– Athletes foot, ring worm

• Assists in plant growth

• Bio-indicators (lichens)

Role in Nature Cont…

• Some Fungi help plants grow larger and healthier.

• Many plants cannot survive without fungi hyphae growing into or on the plant root.

Ex: Orchids cannot grow at all without their fungal partners.

Lichens

• Lichens- fungus and algae/bacteria in mutualisitic relationship. – Fungus-food– Algae/bacteria-

shelter, water, and minerals from fungus.

– Useful bio-indicators because they cannot grow in polluted air.