Fungi

Biol 121, Fall 2010, Tom Buckley 11 Oct 10

heterotrophs

some are unicellular (yeasts)

most are multicellular

body = mycelium (many hyphae)

feed by absorption

some are septate, others ceonocytic

cell walls strengthened by chitin

coenocytichyphaseptate

hypha

Fungallife cycles

Fig 31.5

hetero- = different-karyon = nucleus

gamos = marriage

Many spp only reproduce asexually (deuteromycetes)

Ascomycetes

Fig 31.17

dikaryotichyphae

ascus

karyogamy

plasmogamy

meiosis

mitosis

ascospores

conidia(asexual spores)

Basidiomycetes

Fig 31.19

dikaryotichyphae

basidia

karyogamy

plasmogamy

meiosis

basidiospores

basidiocarpmushroom = basidiocarp

Importance of fungi

Symbioses

leaf-cutter ants

mycorrhizae

lichens

Importance of fungi

Pathogens (mostly of plants)

Medicine, biotech, foods

chestnut blightringworm

penicillinSaccharomyces (beer & bread)