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Fungus. Chapter 19. Characteristics. Fungi are eukaryotic heterotrophs Along with bacteria they are major decomposers Many are saprophytes which means they live off dead material. Most reproduce both sexually and asexually . Fungi are found almost everywhere on earth.
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Fungus Chapter 19
Characteristics • Fungi are eukaryotic heterotrophs • Along with bacteria they are major decomposers • Many are saprophytes which means they live off dead material. • Most reproduce both sexually and asexually. • Fungi are found almost everywhere on earth. • Their cells have cell wallsmade of chitin.
1. Zygomycota – (common molds) bread, cheese molds & fruit molds Bread mold
2.Ascomycota (sac fungi) morels, truffles and yeasts. Truffles
Morels • Gourmet food • Found in woodlands • $20 per pound
3. Basidiomycota (club fungi) mushroom, shelf fungi, and puffballs. Club fungus mushrooms shelf fungus puffballs
The mushroom is called the fruiting body of the fungus because its purpose is to produce reproductive spores.
4. Deuteromycota (imperfect fungi) penicillium, ringworm, and athletes foot penicilium
Athletes foot Imperfect fungus
Toenail fungus • 35 million infected in US • Can spread from person to person • Also called “onychomycosis”
Lichen • Lichen: A partnership between a fungus and an algae. • The algae provides food for the fungus. • The fungus provides a place for the algae to live.
Lichen There are three forms of lichens: • Crustose:paint-like crusts that are tightly attached to trees and rocks
Fruticose:moss-like, branching, the most three dimensional of all the lichens
Parts of a Mushroom • Fruiting body:grows above ground • Stalk(Stipe):main support of mushroom • Ring (annulus):skirt of tissue circling stalk • Cap: top of mushroom • Scales:flakey surface of the cap • Gills:underside of cap (produce spores) • Spores:reproductive structures • Mycelial threads:Underground network of hyphae. • Hyphae: long strands of cells; make up the body of the fungi.
Scale Cap Gills Fruiting body Ring Spores Stalk Mycelial Threads Hyphae
Interesting Fungi • Cyclosporine: An organ transplant drug that is used to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ.
Predator mushrooms – Oyster mushroom use their mycelium to kill and eat round worms.
Truffles: Very expensive fungus that is used to flavor foods. Pigs and dogs are used to hunt this fungus that is buried underground. White Truffles $800-$1,500 Per pound Black Truffles – 3 oz $180
Stinkhorns– smell like rotten meat to attract flies that spread their spores.
Aspergillus niger • Used to create citric acid, an additive to many foods.