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THE FUNGUS AMONG US KINGDOM FUNGI More than just Mushrooms… • Mushrooms – Club: Typical shape of “mushroom,” with spores on gills More than just Mushrooms… • Mushrooms – Club – Cup: Spores are in cup instead of gills More than just Mushrooms… • Mushrooms • Molds – Often found on food and decaying plant material More than just Mushrooms… • Mushrooms • Molds • Yeasts – Unicellular fungi, reproduces by budding More than just Mushrooms… • Mushrooms • Molds • Yeast • Lichens – Grow on rocks and wood, a combination of a fungus and cyanobacteria CAP RING (ANNULUS) SCALES GILLS STALK (STIPE) CUP (VOLVA) MYCELLIUM (HYPHAE) STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION STRUCTURE Cap Gills Stalk or Stipe Spore Hyphae Mycellium FUNCTION Covers and protects the gills Contains hyphae that produce spores Supports the Cap Cell that develops into a new organism Threadlike structure built of fungal cells Body of fungus (except spores) made of tangled hyphae ROLES OF FUNGI: • Decomposition – Organic material is recycled by bacteria and fungi. It is broken down into its original components like Carbon and Nitrogen ROLES OF FUNGI: • Decomposition – Example: Pilobolus fungi decomposes dung of grazing animals. Unique for its ability to “aim” at the light and “shoot” its spore packet so it will land on grass and be eaten by another grazing animal. The entire life cycle is then repeated Pilobolus ROLES OF FUNGI: • Symbiosis • Mycorrhizal Fungi: Symbiotic fungi that live in or around roots of plants. They get food (sugar) from the plant in exchange for water and nutrients • It is estimated that 99.9% of all plants have a fungal partner Mycorrhizal Fungi Benefits of a Fungal Partner ROLES OF FUNGI: • Pathogens • Some fungi are parasitic, causing damage or death to plants, animals, and even other fungi • Can cause severe damage to many crop plants including corn, wheat, potatoes, and fruits Harmful Fungi Harmful Fungi Harmful Fungi Harmful Fungi ROLES OF FUNGI: Medicines – Penicillin: Alexander Fleming discovered that mold could kill bacteria in 1928. During WWII (1940’s) the drug we know today was developed • Food ROLES OF FUNGI: – Several Mushrooms are used in our food – Specialty Cheeses like Blue Cheese, Brie, etc. – Bread, Beer, and Wine are made with yeast