Section 8.2 – Fungi
Fungi Structure-Many celled
- Body of Fungus – Hyphae
- Hyphae produce enzymes that break down food outside the
fungus
- Fungi cells absorb digested food
-Fungi may be
- Saprophytes – live on dead organisms
- Parasites – live on living organisms (host)
- No specialized tissues like plants have
- No chlorophyll
- Grow in warm, moist places
- Reproduce asexually and sexually
- Spore – reproductive cell
4 Main Groups of Fungi
1) Club Fungi -Example – mushroom
-Club shaped structure – basidium
-Reproduce by spores
2) Sac Fungi –
- Examples – yeast, molds and morels
- Spores are produced in sac-like structures called ascus
- Reproduce by budding or sexually by spores
3) Zygote Fungi
- Example – Bread mold
- Reproduce in spore cases called sporangia
4) Imperfect Fungi
- Example – Penicillum Mold
- Sexual reproduction has never been observed
Lichens
- Made of a fungus and an algae
- Fungus gets food from algae
- Algae gets protection from the fungus
Importance of Lichens
- Food
- Helps weather rocks
- Indicators of pollution levels
Fungi and Plants
- Fungi that interact with plant roots form a network called
mycorrhizae
- 80% of plants develop this network
- Fungus helps the plant absorb more nutrients
Mycorrhizae – network of hyphae and roots
Importance of Fungi
1) Food – mushroom and cheese
2) Yeasts for baking
3) Cause diseases in animals
4) Damage crops
5) Cause disease in humans – ringworm, Athlete’s Foot
6) Respiratory infection
7) Used to make antibiotics
8) Decomposers