Shared features: With other eukaryotes: Fungal cells contain membrane-bound nuclei with chromosomes that contain DNA with noncoding regions called introns and coding regions called exons. Fungi have membrane-bound cytoplasmic organelles such as mitochondria, sterol-containing membranes, and ribosomes of the 80S type.

Structure: Fungi can be made up of a single cell as in the case of yeasts, or multiple cells, as in the case of mushrooms. The bodies of multicellular fungi are made of cells that band together in rows that resemble the branches of trees. Each individual branched structure is called a hypha (plural: hyphae).

Stamets explains that humans share nearly 50 percent of their DNA with fungi, and we contract many of the same viruses as fungi. If we can identify the natural immunities that fungi have developed, Stamets says, we can extract them to help humans.

Unlike plant cells, fungal cells do not have chloroplasts or chlorophyll. Fungi have plasma membranes similar to other eukaryotes, except that the structure is stabilized by ergosterol: a steroid molecule that replaces the cholesterol found in animal cell membranes. Most members of the kingdom Fungi are nonmotile.

Fungi are usually classified in four divisions: the Chytridiomycota (chytrids), Zygomycota (bread molds), Ascomycota (yeasts and sac fungi), and the Basidiomycota (club fungi).

Characteristics of Fungi

• Fungi are eukaryotic, non-vascular, non-motile and heterotrophic organisms.
• They may be unicellular or filamentous.
• They reproduce by means of spores.
• Fungi exhibit the phenomenon of alternation of generation.
• Fungi lack chlorophyll and hence cannot perform photosynthesis.

They do not have chlorophyll, hence, they are heterotrophic organisms, absorbing foods into their hyphae. Examples of fungi are yeasts, rusts, stinkhorns, puffballs, truffles, molds, mildews and mushrooms. Word origin: Latin fungus (“’mushroom’”).

Fungi are classified on the basis of sexual reproduction. They are classified into five phyla, namely Chytridiomycota (Chytrids), Zygomycota (conjugated fungi), the Ascomycota (sac fungi), Basidiomycota (club fungi) and Glomeromycota.

In the life cycle of a sexually reproducing fungus, a haploid phase alternates with a diploid phase. The haploid phase ends with nuclear fusion, and the diploid phase begins with the formation of the zygote (the diploid cell resulting from fusion of two haploid sex cells).

Sexual reproduction in the fungi consists of three sequential stages: plasmogamy, karyogamy, and meiosis. The diploid chromosomes are pulled apart into two daughter cells, each containing a single set of chromosomes (a haploid state).

Plants and animals grow through cell division – to get bigger they have to produce more cells. Cell division is relatively slow and requires a lot of energy. The mushroom body also grows by cell division. So a mushroom can increase in size as fast as water can be pumped into its cells.

Fungi reproduce by spreading microscopic spores. These spores are often present in the air and soil, where they can be inhaled or come into contact with the surfaces of the body, primarily the skin. Consequently, fungal infections usually begin in the lungs or on the skin.

Fungi can’t move around so they make spores that are like seeds. Spores fly away on the breeze or in water, on animals or clothing and find a new place to grow that has everything they need.

Reproduction of Fungi. The majority of fungi can reproduce both asexually and sexually. This allows them to adjust to conditions in the environment. They can spread quickly through asexual reproduction when conditions are stable.

They are non-vascular organisms. They do not have vascular system. Xylem and Phloem are absent. Fungi have cell walls (plants also have cell walls, but animals have no cell walls).

Fungi are heterotrophic. Fungi are not able to ingest their food like animals do, nor can they manufacture their own food the way plants do. Instead, fungi feed by absorption of nutrients from the environment around them. Most fungi are saprophytes, feeding on dead or decaying material.

Fungi cannot make their food from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide as plants do, in the process known as photosynthesis. So, like animals, they must obtain their food from other organisms.

They grow best in warm, moist places. They are not green and do not possess chlorophyll. Fungi can grown on vegetables, bread, meat, fur, wood, leather, or anything that can be warm and moist. Fungi that obtain nutrients from nonliving organic matter are saprobes.

Temperature: Fungi grow best in warm temperatures. Some species of fungi do grow better at warm temperatures (70-90°F), but there are some that thrive in very high temperatures of 130-150°F and some that will thrive in very low temperatures below 32°F (below freezing).

Like us, fungi can only live and grow if they have food, water and oxygen (O2) from the air – but fungi don’t chew food, drink water or breathe air. Instead, fungi grow as masses of narrow branched threads called hyphae.

Highly dangerous Cryptococcus fungi love sugar and will consume it anywhere because it helps them reproduce. In particular, they thrive on a sugar called inositol which is abundant in the human brain and spinal cord.

Cultivating fungi What you need is: a place for the fungus to grow. a substrate (i.e. food) on which the fungal mycelium feed and grow – it’s very important this substrate is treated correctly by pasteurisation or sterilisation. fungal spawn, which is the mycelium for whichever strain of fungi you would like to grow.

The first sign is shiny black or dark brown growths that look like seeds or insects on the leaves. These are the egg-like structures that have been ejected by the fungi. They can be picked off the leaves. To help control these fungi, remove any fungal fruiting bodies from the surface of the soil.

death cap mushroom

Although fragmentation, fission, and budding are methods of asexual reproduction in a number of fungi, the majority reproduce asexually by the formation of spores. Spores that are produced asexually are often termed mitospores, and such spores are produced in a variety of ways.