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 organisms means they have true nucleus which are enclosed in membranes.
• They are non-vascular organisms.
• Fungi have cell walls (plants also have cell walls, but animals have no cell walls).
• There is no embryonic stage for fungi.
• They reproduce by means of spores.

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.

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.

Classifying fungi into ascomycetes and basidiomycetes The (macro) fungi that are dealt with in this website can be divided into two broad groups, called ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, depending on how their sexual spores are formed.

Fungi are a group of living organisms which are classified in their own kingdom. This means they are not animals, plants, or bacteria. Unlike bacteria, which have simple prokaryotic cells, fungi have complex eukaryotic cells like animals and plants.

Terms in this set (6)

• Microsporidia. -unicellular, obligate, intracellular parasites of animals.
• Chytrids. -only fungi with flagella at any life stage.
• Zygospore Fungi. -terrestrial fungi.
• Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. -have symbiotic, mutalistic relationship with over 80% of all plants.
• Sac fungi. -ascomycota.
• Club Fungi.

The true fungi, which make up the monophyletic clade called kingdom Fungi, comprise seven phyla: Chytridiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Microsporidia, Glomeromycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota (the latter two being combined in the subkingdom Dikarya).

Among such fungi are members of the Aspergillus and Fusarium genera as well as other genera (e.g., Alternaria, Mucor) comprising the emerging pathogen group in humans. These fungi present a common threat to both agricultural production and the health of healthy and immunocompromised individuals.

Sac Fungi

Together with bacteria, fungi are responsible for breaking down organic matter and releasing carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus into the soil and the atmosphere. Fungi are essential to many household and industrial processes, notably the making of bread, wine, beer, and certain cheeses.

Fungi are a food source for animals and humans. Fungi produce oxygen to breathe. Fungi destroy rocks and minerals. Fungi are natural recyclers.

Humans use fungi for many purposes, including as food or in the preparation of food. Humans also use fungi for pest control. In addition, fungi can be used to produce citric acid, antibiotics, and human hormones. Fungi are model research organisms as well.

Other diseases and health problems caused by fungi

• Aspergillosis. About. Symptoms.
• Blastomycosis. About. Symptoms.
• Candidiasis. Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus. Vaginal candidiasis.
• Candida auris.
• Coccidioidomycosis. About. Symptoms.
• C. neoformans Infection. About.
• C. gattii Infection.
• Fungal Eye Infections. About.

The two ecological roles of fungi are decomposition of other organisms, and providing a food source for other living things.

Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi include symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds.

They get their food by growing on other living organisms and getting their food from that organism. Other types of fungi get their food from dead matter. These fungi decompose, or break down, dead plants and animals.

Here’s where fungi are lurking on your plate.

• Yeast spread. Featured fungus: Saccharomyces cervisiae.
• Cheese. Featured fungi: Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium camemberti.
• Soy sauce. Featured fungus: Aspergillus oryzae.
• Huitlacoche or cuitlacoche. Featured fungus: Ustilago maydis.
• Salami.

Cultured foods Baker’s yeast or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a unicellular fungus, is used to make bread and other wheat-based products, such as pizza dough and dumplings. Yeast species of the genus Saccharomyces are also used to produce alcoholic beverages through fermentation.

Humans have collected and grown mushrooms for food for thousands of years. Figure below shows some of the many types of mushrooms that people eat. Yeasts are used in bread baking and brewing alcoholic beverages. Other fungi are used in fermenting a wide variety of foods, including soy sauce, tempeh, and cheeses.

Fungus & Food Humans eat fungi in many more ways than mushrooms. Bread is made using yeast, a fungus that provides the “lift” in bread making resulting in air bubbles in bread. Beer and wine both use fungi’s alcohol producing properties in the fermenting process.

soil

Penicillins are a group of antibacterial drugs that attack a wide range of bacteria. They were the first drugs of this type that doctors used. Penicillium fungi are the source of penicillin, which people can take orally or via injection.

Some of the fungi most frequently isolated from fermented and cured meat products such as Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium nalgiovense are known penicillin producers; the latter has been shown to be able to produce penicillin when growing on the surface of meat products and secrete it to the medium.