FUNGI
Characteristics of Fungi Nutrition of Fungi Fungi and Humans Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction Diagram Sexual Reproduction Diagram Yeast Budding Fruiting Bodies
Parts of Fungus-
Defined and Illustrated Economic Importance of Fungi
Edible and
Poisonous Fungi Fungi Food Fungi Diseases Fungi
and the Environment
View
this Fungi
Animation showing fungi characteristics.
Under the medium power of the microscope (original
photograph at × 125), the typical Rhizopus structure is apparent, with
often multiple sporangiophores arising from a single point on the mycelium.
Despite the vigour of the mycelium, the sporangiophores in this species are
quite short, less than 1 mm.
Here
the intact sporangium is seen to the right, but the sporangial wall has already
dissolved and the mass of sporangiospores is beginning to lift away. The left-hand
sporangium is already losing its spores, exposing the almost globose columella.
The scar left by the sporangial wall is visible towards the base of the
columella.
Here
at higher power (original photograph at × 500), the sculptured surface of the
columella can be seen. The creases can be regarded as simply an artifact of the
slide mount, no doubt resulting from the pressure of the coverslip.
The dark spores can be seen more easily.
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NUTRITION OF FUNGI
Hyphae secrete digestive enzymes into the external environment.
External digestion of complex biomolecules.
Absorption of the simple soluble products of digestion by diffusion and active transport.
Distribution of absorbed nutrients through the mycelium.
Fungi and Humans
REPRODUCTION
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ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION DIAGRAM
Asexual
Reproduction
Vegetative structure is haploid (n).
Sporangia form at the tip of sporangiophores.
The sporangium fills with haploid nuclei and cytoplasm.
The columnella forms separating the sporangium from the sporangiophore.
Each nucleus with cytoplasm forms a haploid spore with a tough resistant wall.
The spores are wind dispersed.
The spores germinate forming a new haploid mycelium if conditions are suitable.
Mycelia of opposite strain are close.
Hyphae of opposite strain grow towards each other.
The touching tips of the hyphae fill with nuclei and cytoplasm – progametangia formed.
A cross wall forms behind each tip forming gametangia.
The hypha behind each gametangium is called a suspensor.
The contents of the gametangia mix.
The nuclei of opposite strains fuse in pairs – fertilisation.
The combined gametangia develop into a diploid zygospore.
The zygospore is thick-walled resistant and dormant.
In favourable conditions the zygospore germinates by meiosis.
A haploid sporangiophore with a spore-filled sporangium grows from the zygospore.
The spores are wind dispersed and germinate forming a new haploid mycelim.
View
this excellent Fungi Animation of Reproduction.
View
this Fungi
Animation showing fungi reproduction and a self quiz.
Yeast Budding
Asexual reproduction by budding. Good growth conditions – cell increasing in
size. A small bubble-like extension
grows from the cell. The nucleus
undergoes mitosis. A daughter nucleus
moves into the bud. The bud may remain
attached and form a small colony by further budding. The bud may detach and undergo budding. Budding is a very fast method of reproduction.
FRUITING BODIES
This is a beautiful Stropharia species from Washington State. Gills increase the surface area by at least 100 times.
Chanterelles do not have true gills but have blunt ridges that serve to increase surface area.
PARTS OF FUNGUS- DEFINED AND
ILLUSTRATED
HYPHAE: a tubular filament growing at its tip, new hyphae form by branching.
MYCELIUM: all the hyphae together making up the vegetative mass of the fungus.
STOLON HYPHAE: horizontal hyphae growing across and colonising the food environment.
Stolon Hyphae of Bread Mold:
RHIZOIDAL HYPHAE: penetrate the solid medium anchoring the fungus.
SPORANGIUM: a vessel in which the spores are formed and are released for wind dispersal.
SPORANGIOPHORE: a hypha carrying a sporangium.
Columnella: a cross wall separating the spores from the sporangiophore, aids spore release.
Spores: unicellular asexual reproductive and dispersal agents.
APOPHYSIS: a swelling beneath the sporangium.
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Economic Importance of Fungi
Beneficial
Alcohol (ethanol) formation for beer, wine and spirits.
Carbon dioxide gas formation for baking and fizzy drinks.
Harmful
Crop diseases, e.g., potato blight, food spoilage.
What are commonly called mushrooms and toadstools are the reproductive organs of certain fungi. Scientifically there is no difference between mushrooms and toadstools.
There are no features that distinguish edible from poisonous fungi. The ability to recognise the handful of deadly types is essential.
Identification of the good edible types is a safe starting point.
Edible Examples:
Field Mushroom Parasol Mushroom
Poisonous Examples:
Death Cap Fly Agaric
Fungi Food
FUNGI DISEASES
FUNGI AND THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Most Fungi are either SAPROPHYTES OR DECOMPOSERS THAT BREAK DOWN AND FEED ON DECAYING ORGANIC MATERIAL OR DEAD ORGANISMS.
2. Fungi obtain nutrients to absorb by secreting digestive enzymes onto the food source. The enzymes break down, or digest, the food.
3. The breakdown, or digestion, of organic material can also be called DECOMPOSITION. Any organism that causes decomposition can be called a DECOMPOSER.
4. Fungi work along with the Monerans and Protists to decompose the waste and remains of plants and animals.
5. When fungi secretes digestive enzymes into a food source, the Nutrients are released to be used by the fungus and other organisms.
6. The Nutrients are RECYCLED and Returned to the Environment.
7. Without decomposers, ecosystems would collapse, because many organisms would not obtain enough nutrients to stay alive.
8. One scientist estimated that a layer of organic debris about 12 miles thick would now cover the earth if decomposition had never occurred.
Take an ONLINE FUNGUS QUIZ: QUIZ #1 QUIZ #2 (a pick of 4 quizzes!) QUIZ #3
See if you know FUNGI IN LITERATURE
Test yourself on FUNGI SCIENTIFIC NAMES
Test yourself on FUNGUS POPULAR NAMES
View an ANIMATION of bread mold reproduction.
Mandatory Activity
Investigate the Growth of Leaf Yeast
Three sterile malt agar plates.
Plate 1: control – keep closed and place upside down.
Plate 2: remove lid and place base upside down to prevent its contamination.
· Put a ridge of petroleum jelly on the inside of the lid.
· Place an ash leaflet with its upper side stuck to the petroleum jelly.
· Lift the base of the plate onto the lid and set the plate with the lid on top for a day.
· Seal the lid to the base with tape.
· After a day turn the plate upside down and incubate.
Plate 3: repeat as for plate 2 but the lower side of the leaflet is in contact with the jelly.
Results:
Control Plate: must be clear, without any growth of micro-organisms, in order
to continue.
Experimental Plates: pink shiny pimples are colonies of yeast.
Compare exposed upper and lower leaf surfaces for yeast distribution.
Precautions
Laboratory Procedures When Handling Micro-organisms
Assume all micro-organisms are harmful.
Swab the laboratory bench with disinfectant t before and after the experiment.
Wash your hands before and after with a disinfectant soap.
Sterilise all equipment, in a pressure cooker, before and after the experiment.
Sterilise the tip of scissors and forceps by flaming immediately before and after use.
Label each plate on its base with an indelible marker pen.
View the incubated plates through the clear lid - never remove the lid.
Sterile all cultures in a pressure cooker before disposal.
Never put anything near or into your mouth in the laboratory.
Never handle items that may have come in contact with cultured micro-organisms.
Sterility: treated so that there are no living micro-organisms.
Asepsis: methods of preventing contamination by unwanted micro-organisms.