The document discusses the kingdom of fungi. It notes that fungi are eukaryotic organisms that lack chlorophyll and include mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. There are over 70,000 identified fungal species that live everywhere and get nutrition from external sources. Fungi have their own kingdom classification and include 5 major phyla: Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Glomeromycota, Zygomycota, and Chytridiomycota. Fungi play important environmental roles in recycling nutrients, providing food and medicines, and acting as bio-control agents or plant/animal pathogens.

1. KINGDOM
FUNGI

2. • Eukaryotic organism.
• Includes mushrooms, yeasts, rusts, smuts, puffballs, truffles, morels, and
molds.
• Have rigid cell walls containing glucans and chitin.
• More than 70,000 species of fungi have been identified.
• They live everywhere in air, in water, on land, in soil, and on or in plants and
animals.
• Fungi are incapable of producing their own food, so they get their
nourishment from other sources.
• Since fungi are neither plants nor animals, biologists now classify them in a
realm of their own- the fungi kingdom.
• Pest control potential.

3. 5 MAJOR PHYLA OF KINGDOM FUNGI
• Basidiomycota
• Ascomycota
• Glomeromycota
• Zygomycota
• Chytridiomycota

4. PHYLUM ASCOMYCOTA
• commonly known as THE SAC FUNGI OR ASCOMYCETES.
• They are the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species.
• The defining feature of this fungal group is the "ascus" (from Greek:
askos, meaning "sac" or "wineskin"), a microscopic sexual structure
in which nonmotile spores, called ascospores, are formed. However,
some species of the Ascomycota are asexual, meaning that they do not
have a sexual cycle and thus do not form asci or ascospores.

5. PHYLUM BASIDIOMYCOTA
• Commonly known as THE CLUB FUNGI.
• Includes mushrooms, puffballs, rusts, smuts, and stinkhorns
• The majority of edible fungi
• Many fungi in Basidiomycota have a dimorphic life cycle

6. PHYLUM ZYGOMYCOTA
• commonly known as THE BREAD MOLDS or the Conjugating fungi.
• They are mostly terrestrial in habitat, living in soil or on decaying
plant or animal material. Some are parasites of plants, insects, and
small animals, while others form symbiotic relationships with plants.
• Approximately 1050 species are known.
• Most are saprobes, living off decaying organic materials.

7. PHYLUM GLOMEROMYCOTA
(glomeromycetes)
• Is one of the eight currently recognized divisions within the king fungi
with approximately 230 described species.
• The majority of evidence shows that the Glomeromycota are
dependent on land plants ( Nostoc in the case of Geosiphon) for
carbon and energy, but there is recent circumstantial evidence that
some species may be able to lead an independent existence.

8. PHYLUM CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA
(chytridiomycetes)
• Considered to be the most primitive fungi and probably appeared
about 500 million years ago.
• Chytrids as members of this group are known, are found everywhere.
• Chytrids are microscopic and different from other fungi phyla because
chytrids motile spores are called zoospores.

9. IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI IN THE
ENVIRONMENT
• Fungi are important in a variety of ways:
• Recycling - Together with bacteria the fungi form a major role in
recycling the dead and decayed matter.
• Food - Many mushrooms are used as food by humans. Mushrooms
species are edible and are cultured in many parts of the world for sale.
• Medicines - Penicillin antibiotic is derived from a common fungi
Penicillium. Many other fungi also produces antibiotics, which are
used to control diseases in humans and animals.

10. • Bio-control Agents - Fungi are used to parasitise insects
which help control pests. Spores of fungi are sprayed on
crops, this method is cheaper and environmentally friendly.
• Plant and Animal Diseases - Many fungi live on and in
plants and animals causing diseases. They also co-exist
harmoniously with plants and animals.
• Food spoilage - Fungi play a major role in recycling organic
material. Fungal damage is responsible for large losses of
stored food usually when the food contains moisture.

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