Lesson 9- Fungi

Question 1

What are Kingdom Fungi?

Answer 1

• Eukaryotic organisms that include microorganisms such as:
• Kingdom Fungi
• Mushrooms
• Toadstools
• Mould
• Yeast

Question 2

What are some characteristics of Fungi?

Answer 2

• Fungi are heterotrophs: they depend on other organisms for nutrients
• They are Stationary
• All Fungi are multicellular except Yeast

Question 3

What is the cellular structure of Fungi?

Answer 3

• Fungi are made up of Eukaryotic cells, i.e, they contain numerous organelles
• Their cells do not contain chloroplasts and cannot carry out the process of photosynthesis
• They are surrounded by a cell wall that is made up of chitin
• Chitin is a hard material found in the external skeleton of invertebrate animals like insects

Question 4

FUNGAL ANATOMY

Answer 4

• Fungi have long, thread-like cells called hyphae, which form masses called mycelia

Question 5

GROWTH AND NUTRITION of Fungi

Answer 5

• Cells grow at the tips only
• All are heterotrophic
• They obtain nutrients using absorption, not ingestion.

Question 6

Reproduction: Life Cycle of Fungi

Answer 6

• Life cycle🡪 development from a single cell to a reproductive cell age
• Spores are haploid in number and are produced in sporangia
• Dispersed by air currents, and help fungi disperse to new locations
• Spores produced by:
• mitosis 🡪 asexual
• Meiosis 🡪 sexual
• Fungi are classified based on their reproductive cycles
• Fragmentation: pieces of hyphae are broken off and grow into new mycelia
• Example: a gardener breaks up mycelium under the soil surface by digging

Question 7

Absorption of Nutrients by Fungi

Answer 7

• Digestion is extracellular
• Release digesting enzymes into the surroundings and absorb digested nutrients into cells
• Break down dead matter and help with the recycling of nutrients
• Nutrient absorption takes place in:
• Mycelium: a mesh of microscopic filaments called hyphae that are found below the soil
• Fungi are classified according to how they obtain nutrients.
  1. Saprophytes
• Saprophytes are fungi that feed on dead organic matter.
• Saprophytes are important decomposers because they break down large, complex organic molecules into smaller ones.
• In doing so, they release Nitrogen and phosphorus into the soil.
  2. Parasites
• Fungi that feed on living organisms.
• It harms the host organism.
  3. Symbionts
• Fungi that live in close association with another organism.
• Both benefit from the relationship

Question 8

What are Fungal Symbionts?

Answer 8

1. Mycorrhizae
   * Myco= fungus, rhiza =root
   * Hyphae grow from the fungus around plant roots and enter root cells
   * Plants: Hyphae help plants absorb nutrients
   * Fungi: Plants obtain nutrients such as sugars (product of photosynthesis)
2. Lichens
   * A combination of green algae or cyanobacteria and fungi growing together
   * Fungal mycelium provides CO2 and H2O ,and provides structural support
   * Green algae or cyanobacteria provide fungi
   * With carbohydrates (from photosynthesis)
   * Good indicators of pollutants, absorb water directly from the air
3. Importance of Fungi
   * Fungi are important for organisms and for the ecosystem because they are decomposers
   * Food (ie. Mushroom)
   * Yeast is used to make bread, wine and beer
   * Penicillium produces
   * An antibiotic 🡪 , Penicillin