The classification of fungi is a complex and ever-evolving field, but I can give you a good overview of the main categories and some of the key characteristics that define them.
**Firstly, it's important to differentiate between true fungi and fungus-like organisms:
True fungi: These are the "classic" fungi we typically think of, with cell walls made of chitin and a heterotrophic lifestyle (obtaining nutrients from other organisms). They are further divided into several phyla based on their reproductive structures and cell wall composition.
* **Fungus-like organisms:** These share some similarities with true fungi, but lack certain defining characteristics like chitin cell walls or fungal-specific metabolic pathways. Some common examples include water molds (oomycetes), slime molds (myxomycetes), and chytridiomycetes.
**Here are the main phyla of true fungi:**
1. **Chytridiomycota (Chytrids):** The most primitive lineage, known for their aquatic lifestyle and flagellated zoospores. Examples include Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a chytrid fungus responsible for amphibian declines worldwide.
2. **Zygomycota (Conjugated fungi):** Characterized by the formation of zygospores during sexual reproduction. Common examples include bread mold (Rhizopus stolonifer) and athlete's foot fungus (Mucor circinelloides).
3. **Ascomycota (Sac fungi):** The most diverse and species-rich phylum, including yeasts, molds, and many common mushrooms. Their defining feature is the ascus, a sac-like structure containing ascospores. Examples include brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), penicillin mold (Penicillium chrysogenum), and morels (Morchella spp.).
4. **Basidiomycota (Club fungi):** Another large and diverse phylum, known for their fruiting bodies with basidia that produce basidiospores. Examples include mushrooms like button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius), and various bracket fungi.
5. **Glomeromycota:** A recently established phylum characterized by their symbiotic relationship with plant roots. They play a crucial role in plant nutrient uptake and soil health.
**In addition to these phyla, the Deuteromycota (Fungi imperfecti) category exists:**
* **Deuteromycota:** This group used to be classified as a separate phylum, but most of its members have now been reclassified into other phyla based on genetic analysis. They lack a known sexual reproductive stage, but many are still important ecologically and commercially. Examples include bread mold (Neurospora crassa) and the antibiotic-producing Penicillium species.
Remember, this is just a brief overview, and there are many more intricacies to the classification of fungi. If you have any specific questions about a particular type of fungus or want to delve deeper into a specific phylum, I'd be happy to provide more information!
2. THREE KINGDOM SYSTEM-HAECKEL
1866
The classification of living things is based on
their multicellularity and unicellularity.
Protista
(Unicellular algae,
Fungi & Bacteria)
Plantae
(Metaphyta)
Multicellular
plants
Animalia
(Metazoa)
Multicellular
animals
3.
4. The Five kingdoms – R.H Whittaker
• Monera: it includes all the prokaryotes (Eubacteria, Actinomycetes,
Blue Green Algae, Mycoplasma And Akaryote (virus).
• Protista: it includes all the unicellular eukaryotes (Protozoans,
Dinoflagellates, Diatoms, Euglenoids, Slime Molds).
• Mycota: it includes true fungi
• Plantae: it includes multicellular eukaryotic plants (Algae,
Bryophyte, Pteridophyte, Gymnosperm and Angiosperm ).
• Animalia: it includes multicellular animals
7. Kingdom : Protozoa
Phylum
Plasmodiophoromycota
(Endoparasitc Slime mould)
Class
Plasmodiophoromycetes
Order
Plasmodiophorales
Family
Plasmodiophoraceae
Genus & Species
1. Plasmodiophora brassicae
(Club root of cabbage)
2. Spongospora subteranea
(Powdery scab of potato)
8. Characteristics features of Plasmodiophoromycetes
Obligate endoparasites attacking cabbage, potato
Infection results into hypertrophy and hyperplasia in host
Disruption of vascular elements of the host results into general
stunting
A characteristics cruciform type of nuclear division is found
Two distinct plasmodial phases are seen:
First phase is a zoosporangial plasmodium and the
Second plasmodial phase gives rise to resting spores
Walls of the resting spores contain either chitin or cellulose
In some species, sexual fusion is observed before the development
of the resting spore plasmodium
10. General characteristics of Oomycetes
• The majority of them are Eucarpic aquatic fungus that feed on
algae, water mould, aquatic insects, animals, and plants as
parasites.
• Mycelium is coenocytic, filamentous, and well-branched (Non-
septate)
• Zoospores, which are biflagellate, pyriform, or reniform, and
lack a cell wall, are used for asexual reproduction ( both
whiplash and tinsel types)
• Oogamous sexual reproduction occurs through gametangial
contact (Sexual spore – Oospore)
15. General characteristics of Chytridiomycota
• Thallus is coenocytic with oval multinucleate cell or elongated hyphae
or a well developed mycelium. It may be holocarpic or eucarpic and
monocentric or polycentric.
• Reproduce asexually with motile zoospores with a single posteriorly
directed whiplash flagellam
• The encysted uninucleate zoospore germinate to form different thallus
growth and reproductive development.
• Sexual reproduction is well known in certain chytrids. Plasmogamy by
planogametic copulation. Sexual spores germinate to produce
sporangium after a dormant period
• The members have alternation of generations
16. 3.Kingdom : Fungi
Phylum1: Zygomycota
Class: Zygomycetes
Order: Mucorales
Family : Mucoraceae
Genus & Species:
1.Rhizopus atrocarpi
(Jack fruit rot)
2. Mucor
(Sugar Fungi)
18. General characteristics of Ascomycota
• Because the sexual spores (ascospores) are generated in a sac-like
body called an ascus, these fungus are referred to as “sac fungi”
• Well-developed, widely branching, and septate mycelium
• Ascocarps are either flask or cup-shaped and indehiscent, and
ascospores are enveloped in a sheath of sterile hyphae.
• Eight ascospores are commonly found in an ascus.
• Conidia, which are exogenously created spores, are used in asexual
reproduction.
• There is complete absence of motile spores
34. General Characteristics Of Basidiomycota
• The members are terrestrial and saprophytic or parasitic
• Basidium and basidiospores are the characteristic features of the
group
• Unlike the endogenous production of ascospores, basidium
always bears basidiospores exogenously and typical number of
basidiospores is four per basidium
• The mycelium is well developed, branched and septate. The
mycelium is of primary, secondary and tertiary types.
35. General Characteristics Of Basidiomycota
• In majority species, clamp connections are formed in secondary
mycelium
• Dolipore septa is present in most of the genera except rust and
smuts
• Reproduce asexually by conidia, arthrospores, oidia,
fragmentation or by budding
• No specialized sex organs. Sexual reproduction takes place by
somatogamy and spermatization
• In economic importance, Basidiomycota fungi are harmful as
well as useful