Chapter 22
Fungi
Section 1: Characteristics of Fungi
Section 2: Fungal Diversity
Section 3: Fungal Partnerships
Section 1
Characteristics of Fungi
Objectives:
•List the characteristics of the kingdom Fungi.
•Describe the structure of a typical fungus body.
•Identify how fungi obtain nutrients.
•Relate the way fungi obtain nutrients to their role in
ecosystems.
•Distinguish the ways that fungi reproduce.
Section 1
Characteristics of Fungi
Kingdom Fungi
Characteristics Fungi are eukaryotic heterotrophs.
Fungal cells contain chitin and go through nuclear
mitosis.
Section 1
Characteristics of Fungi
Structures and Nutrients
•Structures Their bodies are made up of slender
woven filaments called hyphae. Hyphae form
mycelium.
•Nutrients Fungi obtain nutrients by secreting
digestive enzymes and absorbing the decomposed
nutrients from their environment. Fungi decompose
dead organic matter; they are an important resource
recycler.
•Reproduction Most fungi reproduce by releasing
spores that are produced asexually or sexually.
Section 2
Fungal Diversity
Objectives:
•Describe the characteristics used to classify fungi.
•List two commercial uses for fungi.
•Describe three phyla of fungi.
•Distinguish between the life cycles of zygomycetes,
ascomycetes, and basidiomycetes.
•Describe the mushroom Amanita muscaria.
Section 2
Fungal Diversity
Reproductive Structures
•Asexual Reproduction Fungi are classified by their
sexual reproductive structures. Fungi in which sexual
reproduction has not been observed are referred to as
deuteromycetes.
Section 2
Fungal Diversity
Zygomycetes
•Zygomycetes Fungi in the phylum Zygomycota
produce spores in thick-walled sexual structures
called zygosporangia.
Section 2
Fungal Diversity
Ascomycetes
•Ascomycetes Fungi in the phylum Ascomycota
produce spores in a saclike structures called an ascus.
Section 2
Fungal Diversity
Basidiomycetes
•Basidiomycetes Fungi in the phylum Basidiomycota
produce spores in a club-shaped structure called a
basidium.
Section 3
Fungal Partnerships
Objectives:
•Distinguish two symbiotic relationships that involve
fungi.
•Summarize the ecological importance of
mycorrhizae.
•Describe lichens.
Section 3
Fungal Partnerships
Symbiotic Relationships
•Fungal Symbioses Fungi can be involved in two
types of symbioses, mycorrhizae or lichens.
•Mycorrhizae Mycorrhizae are symbiotic
associations in which a fungus transfers minerals to a
plant’s roots, which in turn supply carbohydrates to
the fungus.
•Lichens The fungal partnership in a lichen protects
the photosynthetic partner and provides the lichen
with minerals. The photosynthetic partner provides
the fungus with carbohydrates.