Kingdom Fungi
Dr. ROD ALFONSO
Head, Development and Quality Assurance Unit
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Compare and contrast Deuteromycota, Zygomycota,
Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota in terms of characteristics,
type of reproduction, and specific examples
IMPORTANT DIVISIONS OF FUNGI
1. Deuteromycota: “Imperfect fungi”
-Regarded as imperfect because they exhibit no
sexual stage has been observed in their life cycle
Reproduce asexually.
* Pneumocystis carinii: Causes pneumonia in AIDS
patients. Leading cause of death in AIDS patients.
Originally classified as a protozoan.
* Candida albicans: Causes yeast infections of vagina in
women. Opportunistic infections of mucous
membranes in AIDS patients.
Opportunistic Infection by
Candida albicans in an AIDS
Patient
Source: Atlas of Clinical Oral Pathology, 1999
2. Zygomycota (Conjugation Fungi)
Also known as bread molds.
Saprophytic molds with coenocytic hyphae (lack septa).
Asexual Reproduction: Used most of the time.
Sporangiospore: Asexual spore enclosed within a sporangium or sac at the
end on an aerial hypha.
Sexual Reproduction: Occurs through conjugation, the joining of hypha of
two different strains (plus and minus).
Zygospores: Sexual spores which are enclosed in a thick, resistant wall.
 Generally not pathogens.
* Rhizopus nigricans: Common black bread mold. May cause
opportunistic infections in diabetes patients
Rhizopus on Strawberries
3. Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Molds with septate hyphae and some yeasts.
Asexual Reproduction: Conidiospores not enclosed in a
sac.
Become airborne easily. Form chains (broom-like structures).
 Sexual Reproduction: Ascospores enclosed in a sac-like
structure (ascus).
Include common antibiotic producing fungi and yeasts, and
several human pathogens.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Penicillium notatum (Produces penicillin)
Saccharomyces (Brewer’s yeast)
Trychophyton (Athlete’s foot)
Aspergillus (Carcinogenic aflatoxin in peanuts),
Blastomyces (Respiratory infections)
Histoplasma capsulatum (Respiratory and systemic infections)
4. Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)

Have septate hyphae.

Include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts.

Sexual Reproduction: Produce basidiospores: Spores
formed externally on a club shaped sexual structure or
base called basidium.

Asexual Reproduction: Through hyphae.

Examples:



Cryptococcus: Causes opportunistic respiratory and CNS
infections in AIDS patients.
Amanita: Mushroom produces lethal toxins to humans.
Claviceps purpurea: Produces ergot toxin in wheat and rye.
Deuteromycota
Characteristics
Imperfect fungi
Zygomycota
Conjugation
fungi
Bread molds
Ascomycota
Basidiomycota
Molds with
septate hyphae
With septate
hyphae
Mushrooms,
toadstools, rust
& smuts
Some yeasts
Type of
Reproduction
asexual
Sexual:
conjugation
zygospores
Asexual:
sporangiospore
Specific
Examples
Pneumocystis
carinii
Rhizopus
nigricans
Sexual:
ascospores
Sexual:
basidiospores
Asexual:
conidiospores
Asexual:
through hyphae
Penicillium
notatum
Cryptococcus
Amanita
Candida
albicans
Sacharomyces
cereviciae
Aspergillus
Trychophyton
Claviceps
purpurea