Fungi: Classification, Importance and Introduction

 Introduction to Fungi:

    Fungi are heterotrophic(cannot prepare their own food) organisms. They are non-motile, rigid cell wall which contain chitin and lake centrioles. They are grow in soil. These properties are similar to plants, that is why they are firstly placed in kingdom plantae. 
But some properties are similar to animals such as they are heterotrophs and gain food through absorption. Similarities and dissimilarities with plants and animals fungi are placed in separate kingdom called kingdom fungi. Approximately 100,000 species of fungi are discover today.

Body structure of fungi:

    The body of fungus made up of branched, long, thread like structure called hyphae, and body is called mycelium. Hyphae has two types: septate and non septate. 
Septate hyphae has cross-wall(septa) which divide cells with one or more nuclei. Non septate hyphae has no division. These are also called coenocytic hyphae. They contain cell wall which is made of chitin. There are pores between septa from which cytoplasm flow from one to other cell and provide food. By this they can grow rapidly. Fungi can reproduce through both sexually and asexually by spores.

Classification of fungi:

     Fungi are classified into four classes. 
  1. Basidiomycota
  2. Ascomycota
  3. Zygomycota
  4. Deutromycota

Basidiomycota:

    Fungi of this group are called club fungi or basidiomycetes. These are named because of their club shaped sexual reproductive structure. These reproductive structure are called basidium which produce spores. Examples of basidiomycetes are
shelf fungi, puff balls, smut and rust.

Ascomycota:

    Fungi of this group are called sac fungi or ascomycetes. These are named because they have sac like reproductive structure called asci. The asci is under macroscopic fruiting body called ascocarp. It is largest group of fungi include over 60,000 species. Examples of ascomycota are penicillium, peziza, yeast, true morels and cordyceps.

Zygomycota:

    Fungi of these groups are called zygomycetes or conjugating fungi. They formed zygote through fusion of hyphae. Their hyphae are coenocyte. They produce spores which are called zygospores. Spores are used in asexual reproduction. Examples of zygomycota are Rhizopus, mucor and zoopagomycotina.

Duetromycota:

    Fungi of this group are called duetromycetes or imperfect fungi. This is heterogenous group of fungi in which sexual reproduction has not been observed. They show special kind of recombination in which chromosomes of same hyphae overlap. This type of recombination is called parasexuality.

Nutrition in fungi:

    Fungi gain nutrition through absorption in many ways. Fungi are saprotrophs those organisms who decay dead organic matter, by secrete their own enzymes and gain nutrition by absorbing it. 
Some fungi lives as parasite and mutualists to other. Some are active predators. Fungi form two types of mutualistic relationship(beneficial for both; parasite and host). Lichens and Mycorrhizae.

Mycorrhizae:

   It is the relationship between fungi and higher vascular plant. The fungi  attach to 
the roots of plant. It is mutualistic relationship. It means that mycorrhizae is beneficial
for both organisms.
The fungal hyphae increase the amount of nutrient such as phosphorus, copper, and other nutrient in soil. It also help in directly absorption of these elements. On the other hand fungi absorbed nutrients from plant.

Lichen:

    It is relationship between a fungi and autotroph such as cyanobacteria and green algae. Fungal hyphae protect algae from direct strong sunlight and get food from algae. Lichen can grow everywhere, as land is fertile or harsh rocky. They are very important for ecosystem as bio-indicators of pollution. But some lichens are poisonous.

Importance of fungi:

    Fungi has a great importance in ecology and industry. 

Ecological importance:

  • Fungi are decomposers. With bacteria they recycle dead organic matter and provide nutrients to the ecosystem.
  • Lichens are bioindicators of pollution. They absorb pollution from air.
  • Plant can grow better with mycorrhizae than the other plants. So, fungi improved the growth of plants.

Industrial importance:

  • Some fungi such as yeast are great importance in fermentation(chemical reaction in the presence of living organisms).
  • A fungi which is known as Aspergillus use in the production of soya sauce.
  • Fungi are used as antibiotics and drugs.
  • Natural dyes are comes from lichen.
  • Fungi such as mushrooms, puff balls, truffles and some other fungi are edible(suitable for eating).
  • Penicillium is use in flavor and aroma.
     
    

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