The Kingdom
Fungi
Section 21-1
What Are Fungi?
Eukaryotic
Heterotrophic: digest food
outside of their bodies, then
absorb it
Cell walls made of chitin
Structure & Function of
Fungi
Multicellular, except for yeast
Composed of hyphae (thin filaments
one cell thick)
Structure & Function of
Fungi
Body composed of mycelium (many
hyphae tangled together)
Fruiting body: reproductive structure
growing from the mycelium
Reproduction in Fungi
Most asexually and sexually
Asexual
cells or hyphae break off and
grow on their own
Spores
Reproduction in Fungi
Sexual
 2 different mating types: plus and
minus
 Hyphae fuse & form diploid zygote
nucleus
 Enters meiosis and produces
haploid spores
How Fungi Spread
Spores scattered by wind
Some lure animals to disperse
spores
 Stinkhorns: smell like rotting
meat to attract flies
Ecology of Fungi
Section 21-3
All Fungi Are
Heterotrophs
Saprobes: obtain food from
decaying organic matter
Parasites: harm hosts
Symbionts: live in close and
mutually beneficial association
with other species
Fungi as Parasites
Plant diseases
 Corn smut: destroys corn kernels
 Mildews
 Wheat rust
Human diseases
 Athlete’s foot
 Ringworm
 Yeast infections