Basic information on fungi

1. SHITAL TRIVEDI
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
Department of pharmaceutical technology,
L.J.INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY
Subject: Pharmaceutical Microbiology
SEMESTER 5
FUNGI

2. Definition: Fungi
• Unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic spore bearing organisms.
Fungi
Saprophytic
Parasitic
Symbiotic
Commensals Malassezia is naturally found on the
skin surfaces of many animals, including
humans.

3. • Different than plant…
• Contain Chitin in cell wall
• Lack chlorophyll
• Chemoheterotroph

4. Morphology of fungi: 4 types
1. Simple oval cells (yeast)
2. Long tubular septate hyphae with lateral branching (Mold)
3. Dimorphic which exist in both forms i.e. 1 & 2
4. Yeast like mold

5. Yeast:
• Unicellular
• Egg shaped, some are elongated/spherical simple cells
• Non flagellated-non motile
• Size: 1-5 µm in width & 5-30 µm or more in length.
• Colony on culture media: Smooth, creamy
• Reproduce sexually and asexually (by budding)
• Example: Saccharomyces cerevisae

6. Mold ( Filamentous/Fleshy fungi)
• Body (Thallus) of mold Mycelium (Plural: Mycelia)
Spore
• Mycelium- Complex network of hyphae (Singular: Hypha)
• Size of hypha: 5- 10 µm wide
• Mycelia: Vegetative or reproductive
• Colony on culture media: Dry & powdery
• Mycelium: Loosely woven network or compact organized structure (Fruiting body)

7. Hyphae: 3 Types
1. Aseptate ( Coenocytic)
2. Uninucleate Septate
3. Multinucleate septate

8. Importance of Fungi:
• Production of antibiotics. Example- Penicillin.
• Production of alcohol, beverages, bakery, cheese ripening.
• Production of enzymes, citric acid, oxalic acid.
• As food.. e.g. Mushroom, truffles.
• Saprophytic fungi…as decomposer.

9. Classification of fungi based on sexual reproduction pattern:
Kingdom : Fungi
Division: Amastigomycota
Class:
Zygomycetes
Ascomycetes Basidiomycetes Deuteromycetes
Examples :
1. Zygomycetes: Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor rouxii etc.
2. Ascomycetes: Yeast, Penicillium sp., Morel, Truffle, Ophiocordyceps sinensis etc.
3. Basidiomycetes: Mushrooms, Puff balls, Bracket fungi, Rusts, Smuts etc.
4. Deuteromycetes: Canida albicans, Aspergillus flavus , Alternaria solani ,Verticillium albo-
atrum etc.

10. 1.
2.
3.
4.

11. Zygomycetes/Phycomycetes (Conjugation fungi):
• Aseptate hyphae
• Found in aquatic habitats, decaying wood or as parasites.
• Asexual reproduction: By formation of Sporangiospores within Sporangium.
• Sporangiospore: a) Zoospores- motile
b) Aplanospores- nonmotile
• Sexual reproduction:
• By formation of Zygospore .
• Gamets:
Isogamous :- Similar male & female gamets.
Anisogamous:- Different size gamets.
Oogamous:- Large non motile female gamet &
small motile male gamet.

12. Reproduction cycle of Zygomycetes:

13. Ascomycetes (Cup Fungi/ Sac fungi):
• Septate hyphae
• Asexual reproduction: By formation of Conidiospores.
• Sexual reproduction:
• By formation of Ascospores in fruiting body Ascocarp .

14. Reproduction cycle of Ascomycetes

15. Basidiomycetes (Club Fungi):
• Septate hyphae
• Only Sexual reproduction:
• By formation of Basidiospores in fruiting body Basidiocarp .

16. Sexual reproduction of Basidiomycetes:

17. Deuteromycetes (Imperfect Fungi):
• Septate hyphae
• Only Asexual reproduction is known:
• By formation of Conidiospores.

18. Asexual reproduction of Fungi:
(Somatic/Vegetative reproduction)
A) Fission of somatic cells
B) Budding of somatic cells/spores
C) Fragmentation of the hyphal cells
D) Spore formation:
Arthrospores/Oidia,
Chlamydospores ,
Sporangiospores,
Conidiospores,
Blastospores

19. Oospore: Sexual reproduction:
• Oogonium: Special female structure, contain one or more Oospheres
• Antheridium: Male gamets
• Antheridium fertilize Oospheres--------Oospores.

20. Physiology of Fungi:
• Air requirement:
Molds: Strictly aerobic.
Yeast: Aerobic & some are facultative
• Temperature for growth:
Saprophytic fungi: 22-30 oC
Parasitic fungi: 30-37 oC. Some fungi near to or at 0 oC.
• pH: Fungi can tolerate more acidic conditions (3.8-5.6).
• Nutritional requirement:
Organic substances as carbon & energy source,
Organic and inorganic nitrogenous substances as nitrogen source.
Sucrose : Fungi can grow in a medium containing conc. Of sugar ( 4-5 %) that
inhibit the growth of most bacteria.
• Fungi are resistant to penicillins, sensitive to griseofulvin.

21. World’s largest living organism?
• It’s Plant pathogenic fungus (mushroom)……. Armillaria ostoyae, the world's
largest living thing is even bigger than a blue whale (which happens to be the
largest animal living now).
• It's nicknamed, the Humongous Fungus.
• It's an organism that covers 2,385 acres (almost 4 square miles) of the Malheur
National Forest in Oregon.

22. Reference:
• Chapter 17 on Fungi in book of ‘Microbiology’ by MICHAEL J. PELCZAR, JR., E.C.S.
CHAN, NOEL R. KRIEG, 5TH Edition, Mc Graw Hill Education Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi,
India, Pg. 333-363.
• https://sciencesamhita.com/why-some-fungi-grouped-under-fungi-imperfecti/
• https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-saprophytic-and-
commensal-fungi
• https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/the-largest-living-thing-on-
earth-is-mostly-hidden-from-view/articleshow/58550833.cms