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4 Kingdom Fungi.notebook THE LIFE OF A FUNGUS Although originally classified as plants because they share some • characteristics, fungi have several characteristics that make them different: They lack chlorophyll, therefore they are not photosynthetic. o The cell wall is made of chitin rather than cellulose. o Fungi are heterotrophs and absorb food after the secretion of o enzymes and extracellular digestion. Plants are photosynthetic. Fungi reproduce by spores rather than seeds. o November 02, 2010 o Fungi are composed of filaments called hyphae. Hyphae may be branched. A dense mass of hyphae is called a mycelium. Hyphae may contain internal crosswalls that divide the hyphae § into separate cells. The crosswalls of many species have pores, allowing cytoplasm to flow freely from one cell to the next. Cytoplasmic movement within the hyphae provides a means to transport materials. vs Hypha Characteristics Characteristics Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (Oregon) 890 hectares = 2,200 acres = 1,600 football fields Honey Mushroom Armillaria ostoyae Estimated to be 2,400 years old and weigh 605 tonnes! Maleur National Forest (Oregon) • There are many uses for fungi: Many are harmful and cause decay, rot and spoilage. o Some cause serious plant and animal diseases. o Many are beneficial... o Yeasts are used in the manufacture of bread, wine and beer. § Production of penicillin. § Many mushrooms are eaten as food. § Growth and Crosswalls NUTRITION Fungi are major decomposers in every ecosystem. They break down matter • into simple nutrients that can be used by other organisms. All are heterotrophic. Fungi excrete enzymes into their environment to • digest food. They then absorb the nutrients. Most species of fungi decompose dead matter. Many are parasitic and • obtain nutrients from living organisms. (Sporotrichosis) Sporothrix schenckii (Athlete's foot) Trichophyton species Penicillium chrysogenum Uses Decomposers 1 4 Kingdom Fungi.notebook November 02, 2010 • REPRODUCTION Most fungi reproduce sexually although there are a few examples of those • that reproduce asexually. Yeast are a notable exception as they show mostly asexual reproduction. o Yeast • The hyphae of two individuals meet and fuse. The resulting fungus then has DNA from each of the two partners. The above ground structure that we call a mushroom is actually the reproductive structure. Spores produced in the mushroom are dispersed and grow into new individuals. Spores are non-motile, unlike the gametes of plants and animals. Spores are dispersed over great distances by wind, insects, and animals. o Reproduction 2