On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
introduction to kingdom fungi
1.
2. A eukaryotic, heterotrophic organism devoid
of chlorophyll that obtains its nutrients by
absorption, and reproduces by spores
(sexually as well as asexually) have a cell wall
made up of chitin or cellulose .
3. • 100,000 species
• Only 100 human pathogens, fungi associated
diseases are rising, due to nosocomial
infections and in immunocompromised
patients (ie. HIV, diabetes, transplant folks)
• Aspergillosis, Blastomycosis—pulmonary
infections and dissemination may be involved.
• 5,000 plant pathogens=$1 billion/yr
4. Fungi=absorptive heterotrophs
Animals=phagotrophic heterotroph
Heterotroph (chemo-organotrophs):
an organism incapable of synthesizing
carbohydrates from inorganic sources; requires
preformed organic compounds produced by
other organisms
Plants=autotrophs
5. Cylindrical, branching filaments composed of a
tubular cell wall filled with cytoplasm and
organelles
Most fungal hyphae are 2-10 m diameter
Mycelium: A tuft of hyphae is known as
mycelium
Thallus:
Body of fungus is known as thallus
8. Shape of fungi
Protect against osmotic lysis
It the wall contains pigments (melanin)
protect the cell against ultraviolet radiation or
the lytic enzymes of other organisms
9. Structural components:
chitin microfibrils [ß(1-4)-linked polymer of N-
acetylglucosamine]
chitosan in Zygomycota [ß(1-4)-linked polymer of
glucosamine]
ß-linked glucans
Gel-like components:
Mannoproteins (form matrix throughout wall)
10. Antigenic glycoproteins, agglutinans,
adhesions—on cell wall surface
Melanins—dark brown to black pigments
(confer resistance to enzyme lysis, confer
mechanical strength and protect cells from UV
light, solar radiation and desiccation)
Plasma membrane—semi-permeable
11.
12. Septa—regular cross-walls formed in
hyphae. Hyphae with septa are septate,
those lacking septa are called aseptate
or coenocytic.
primary septa are formed as a process of
hyphal extension and generally have a septal
pore, which allows for cytoplasmic and
organelle movement.
Secondary or adventitious septa are
imperforate, formed to wall off ageing parts of
the mycelium.
19. 1. Planogametic copulation
2. Gametangial contact (gametangy)
3. Gametangial copulation (gametangiogamy)
4. Somatogamy
5. Spermatization
Parasexuality: This is a process in which
plasmogamy, karyogamy, and haplodization takes
place, but not at specified points in the thallus or
the life cycle.
Sexual Reproduction
20. The vegetative thallus predominates in the life
cycle of a fungus
The thallus may be haploid (1n), dikaryotic
(n+n) or diploid (2n) in different groups of
fungi
Ploidy of thallus is determined by the timing of
these events in the life cycle:
Plasmogamy (cell fusion)
Karyogamy (nuclear fusion)
Meiosis (reduction division)
21. n n + n
Karyogamy
n + n 2n
Meiosis
2n n
Life cycle is
predominantly
dikaryotic (n + n)
mitosis
Plasmogamy
22.
23.
24. Facts
Fungus is neither a plant nor an animal
Mushrooms, Moulds and Yeasts
Opportunistic Pathogen of Plants and
animals
Symbiotic
Promising impact in biotech
Mycotoxins
