Kingdom
Fungi
Diversity of Life ~ Bio 20
Mrs. S. Pipke-Painchaud
Curriculum Connections . . .
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2. Recognize the role of monera, protists, and fungi in the ecosystem.
2.1 Describe viral structure and activity.
2.2 Identify some viral diseases prevalent in plants, animals, and humans in
Saskatchewan.
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2.3 Discuss the various ways bacteria are classified.
2.4 Describe some diseases caused by bacteria which affect organisms living in
Saskatchewan.
2.5 Identify some valuable roles played in the ecosystem by bacteria.
2.6 Distinguish between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
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2.7 Describe how the protist kingdom is classified.
2.8 Collect, culture, and observe a variety of protists.
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2.9 Describe the general characteristics of fungi.
2.10 Collect and observe some samples of fungi.
2.11 Identify the basic structural features of bacteria.
Fungi Characteristics . . .
Eukaryotic
Heterotrophic (saprotrophic)
1.
2.
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Mostly terrestrial
Non-motile
Most are multicellular
3.
4.
5.
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Except yeast
Consist of hyphae (thread like structures)
6.
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7.
Some are parasitic
Lack Chlorophyll
Hyphae tangled together = mycelium
Cell walls of chitin
Reproduce asexually and sexually via spores that develop into hyphae
Info
from BSCS 8th Edition
Importance . . .
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Key decomposers along with bacteria
Sources of antibiotics
Many cause plant diseases
Some form symbiotic relationships
Used to produce food:
1.
2.
3.
Breads
Making alcohol
Producing drugs
Info
from BSCS 8th Edition
Examples

Mushrooms, molds, mildews, rusts, smuts
Phylum Zygomycota:

Example: Rhizopus
 Black
Bread mold (can grow on grapes or
strawberries, etc)
Rhizopus is a common bread mold.
The pink lines are the hyphae, the dark pink
ovals are individual zygosporangia, that are
 Some are parasitic (plant disease)
produced when two individuals
(a positive and negative mating type) meet
 Most are decomposers
Rhizopus
http://www1.fccj.org/dbyres/images/rhizopus.jpg
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Characteristics:
 No
cross walls on hyphae
 Reproduction by asexual spores and sexual
conjugation to form Zygospores.
Info
from BSCS 8th Edition
Phylum Ascomycota:
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Sac Fungi
Examples:
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yeast, apple scab, powdery mildew, blue-green molds,
Morels, truffles
Chestnut blight and Dutch Elm Disease
Athletes Foot Fungus
Characteristics:
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Cross walls divide hyphae
Reproduction:
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Asexual: Conidiospores
Sexual: Ascospores
(produced in the asci – sac like structures)
Yeast:
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Yeast: http://www1.fccj.org/dbyres/fungi.htm
“A large group of single celled yeast are shown
here. Yeast is an ascomycete, but it
reproduces almost exclusively by asexual
reproduction (budding). Each cell just divides
in two. This genus of yeast is used for baking
(it makes the carbon dioxide that helps dough
to rise) and also beer and wine making (in
anaerobic conditions yeast produces alcohol).
The genome of yeast was recently
sequenced.”
Single celled
Essential in bread making and production of alcoholic beverages (i.e. beer and wine)
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In anaerobic conditions, yeast breaks down sugar into carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol.

i.e. bread rises, foam on beer
Info
from BSCS 8th Edition
Powdery Mildew

https://supersonichydro
ponic.com/components/
com_fpslideshow/imag
es/powdery_mildew.jpg
Lilac Leaf Powdery Mildew

http://www.kastlekare
.com/images/downey
-mildew-large.jpg
Phylum Basidiomycota
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Wheat Rust:
Club Fungi
Examples:
http://www1.fccj.org/dbyres/images/rust100.jpg
 Bracket
fungi, smuts, rusts, jelly fungi,
puffballs and stinkhorns
 Mushrooms
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“This image shows the
urediospores of the fungus
bursting out of the top
surface of a wheat leaf. This
spreads the infection to
other wheat plants.”
Characteristics:
 Hyphae
divided by cross walls
 Reproduction:
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Sexual: Basidiospores (produced on the basidium)
Info
from BSCS 8th Edition
Rust

http://www.plantpath.wi
sc.edu/PDDCEducatio
n/MasterGardener/Gen
eral/Slide12.htm
Stem, Leaf & Stripe Rust

http://www.grdc.co
m.au/director/event
s/grdcpublications/r
ustlinks
Corn Smut
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
http://www.apsnet.org/Education/Illustrated
Glossary/PhotosS-V/smut.jpg
“a group of fungi
in the
Basidiomycetes
that typically
releases masses
of black dusty
teliospores at
maturity
(corn smut caused
by Ustilago zeae)”
Phylum Deuteromycota
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Imperfect Fungi
Examples:
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Fusarium, alternadria, penicillium
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Penicillium roquefortii = roquefort cheese
P. camembertii = camembert cheese
P. notatum = drug penicillin
Characteristics:
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Cross walls divide hyphae
Reproduction:
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Penicillium:
http://www1.fccj.org/dbyres/fungi.htm
Asexual: spores
Sexual: unknown (has not been observed)
Grouped for convenience
Info
“The pink lines are hyphae of the
Penicillium fungus, the circular
dots are spores. Penicillium was
the original source of the first
antibiotic Penicillin. It is also used
in producing blue cheese, like Brie
and Camembert.”
from BSCS 8th Edition
Mycorrhizal Fungi
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A symbiotic relationship between
roots and fungi
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Fungi absorb soil nutrients and
secrete an acid that makes the
nutrients more available to the plant.
Sugars produced in photosynthesis
nourish the fungi.
Fungi absorb water and protect from other
pathogens found in the soil.
Orchids and pines do not grow well if their mycorrihizal fungi are
absent.
Increase surface area of the root
Lichens
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Is a symbiotic relationship between a
fungus and algae or cyanobacterium
Looks like a mass of fungal hyphae but are filled with algae inside.
Secrete acid which breaks down bare rock (i.e. pioneer organisms); can
also tolerate extreme conditions
Can completely dry out and become dormant until moisture is available.
Growth occurs when water is available (grows in spurts)
Lichens are good indicators of pollution because the
toxins are concentrated in the cells.
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i.e. radioactive waste has been measured in lichens.
(biomagnification)
Example:
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Reindeer Moss – found in the arctic
Other interesting facts…
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Fungi at Chernobyl
Recent monitoring work on the devasted ruin of the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant has noted significant fungal growth on the walls of inner
sanctum of the ruin of the power plant. Over 37 species have been
recorded mainly of deuteromycetes. Some species like Alternaria
alternata, Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Penicillum hirsutum
were found more typically in the severely contaminated areas and it is
suggested in the research that they may be active biodestructors of
extremely radioactive substrates. The radiation levels there are about
10000 times that that would be fatal in humans! For full details of this
research, see Zhdanova, N., Zakonechnaya, V.A., Vember, V.V. &
Nakonechnaya, L.T.: Fungi from
Chernobyl. Mycological Research 104 (2000), p.1421-1426
http://www.nifg.org.uk/facts_a.htm#Why%20female%20pigs%20hunt%
20truffles
A Few Facts About Fungi
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/facts.htm

BEVERAGES. The average person consumes
beverages produced by fungi on a daily basis.
All the citric acid used in soft drinks, candies,
artificial lemon juice, baked goods etc. (check
the labels) is produced industrially by fungus
fermentation using Aspergillus niger. The yeast
fungus (Saccharomyces cereviseae) is used in
fermentation processes that result in the
production of beers, wines and spirits (billions of
gallons!)
A Few Facts About Fungi
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/facts.htm
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OTHER FOOD PRODUCTS. The yeast fungus
Saccharomcyes is also used in the leavening of
bread and other baked products. The blue
mould, Penicillium, is used in the ripening
process to prepare speciality cheeses such as
blue cheeses e.g. Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Stilton
etc. and soft cheeses such as Camembert and
Brie.
A Few Facts About Fungi
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/facts.htm
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ANTIBIOTICS from FUNGI
There are a number of important antibiotics
produced industrially by fungal fermentation
for use as medicines in humans and animals.
These include penicillin by Penicillium
chrysogenum, cephalosporin by
Acremonium (=Cephalosporium),
griseofulvin by Penicillium griseofulvin etc.
A Few Facts About Fungi
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/facts.htm
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ALLERGENS
We breathe in spores of FUNGI on a daily basis. The so-called
clean country air may contain as many as 10,000 fungal spores
per cubic metre. Also fungi grow very nicely in and around
houses. Fungi sporulating in basements and bathrooms can
become a significant component of house dust and a major
problem for those with mould allergies.
Those who are prone to allergies can become sensitized to
many one of a large number of fungal species. Only those that
reach significant levels in the air and that are of fairly common
occurrence are important as human allergens. These include
Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria and Cladosporium.
A Few Facts About Fungi
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/facts.htm

MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI form intimate
associations (MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS) with
the roots of higher plants. The fungal hyphae
function in place of root hairs for the absorption
of water and minerals. These mycorrhizal fungi
can also protect the roots from attack by other
fungi. Each forest tree has hundreds of
thousands of kilometres of hyphae supplying it
with water and inorganic salts. In return the tree
supplies the fungus with sugars (carbohydrates)
manufactured in its leaves.
A Few Facts About Fungi
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/facts.htm

SAPROPHYTIC FUNGI are the primary
agents responsible for the biodegradation
of plants and woody debris (cellulose and
lignified cellulose). EIGHTY-FIVE BILLION
tons of carbon is returned annually to the
atmosphere as carbon dioxide by decay of
cellulose and lignified cellulose. Most of
this is by fungi.
Want more facts??

A Few Facts About Fungi
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCEL
LANEOUS/facts.htm
Resource Websites:

Excellent Images:
 http://www.richard-
seaman.com/Fungus/USA/DevilsLake2003/

Fungi: Images and short info
 http://www1.fccj.org/dbyres/fungi.htm
Complete the Mushroom Lab
Green BSCS Text Reference:
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Read pages 320-324
 Complete

Questions 1-5 (p.324)
Read pages 324-328
 Complete
Questions 1-5 (p.328)