Fungi are a kingdom of usually multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs (cannot make their own food) and have important roles in nutrient cycling in an ecosystem. Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually, and they also have symbiotic associations with plants and bacteria.

1. GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC &
CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI
SHRI SHANKRACHARYA COLLEGE
JUNWANI,BHILAI
Dr. Rachana Choudhary
H.O.D Microbiology

2. INTRODUCTION
Fungi- Latin Word Fungour (to Flourish)
Fungi (singular: fungus) are a kingdom of usually
multicellular eukaryotic organisms.
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the
study of fungi,
Mycologist-A Person who studies Mycology.

3. DEFINITION
According to Alexopoulos(1962)
The fungi include nucleated spore bearing
achlorophyllous organisms that generally
reproduce sexually & whose filamentous
branched somatic structures are typically
surrounded by cellwalls containingcellulose
or chitin.

4. The Kingdom Fungi
Mysterious Molds
Mildews
& Mushrooms

5. FUNGI ARE THEIR OWN KINGDOM

6. Fungi are not plants
They have a cell wall like
plants, but…..
Plants make their own food
(sugars) from light
Fungi are more like animals
than like plants

7. Alexander Fleming
Discovered a blue-green mold killed the
staphylococcus in his lab. It was the antibiotic
penicillin.

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI
Habitat
Thallus
Cell wall
Nuclear Status
Nutrition
Reproduction
Distribution

9. HABITAT
Diverse Habitat
Heterotrophs
Parasites
1. Obligate Parasites
2. Facultative saprophytes
3. Facultative Parasites

10. THALLUS
Unicellular Thallus
Filamentous Thallus (Mycelia)

11. Kinds of Mycelia
Aseptate Mycelium
Septate Mycelium

12. Origin of septa

13. Structure of fungal cell
A. Cell Wall
B. Protoplast
a. Cell Membrane
b. Cytoplasm

14. A.CELLWALL
The cell wall is composed mainly of glucans,
chitin and glycoproteins. As the components of
the fungal cell wall are not present in humans,
this structure is an excellent target for antifungal
therapy.

15. B.PROTOPLAST
a. Cell membrane of fungi is enriched with diverse lipids
belonging to the class glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids
and sterols. Fungal cell membrane typically contains
ergosterol as the main component in contrast to cholesterol
which is major sterol present in animal cells.

16. b. Cytoplasm -Cell organelles are included the
endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi
apparatus and vacuoles. Lomasomes which are
membranous structures lying between the cell wall and
plasma membrane are common. Examples of inclusions are
the stored foods (glycogen, and oil drops) pigments and
secretory granules.

17. FUNGAL FLAGELLA
The Higher Fungi (Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes &
deuteromycetes )lack flagella; the structures are
completely absent in all stages of their life cycle. The
only exception are the chytrids, which
produce flagellated gametes.
The motile cell in the lower fungi are furnished with
1 or 2 fine protoplasmic, whip-like threads known
as flagella. .

18. Structure of Flagellum
Forming the core of the flagellum is a central
or axial filament known as the axoneme.
In a cross section, the axoneme it seen to be
composed of eleven fibrils .Of these, two are
central and nine peripheral.

19. Kinds of flagellum
(i). Whiplash flagellum
with an end piece
(ii).Whiplash flagellum
with a blunt tip
(iii). Tinsel Flagellum

20. Flagellum in the lower Fungi
The number, kind and
position of flagella on the
motile cell constitutes its
flagellation.
It is constant each class of
the Lower Fungi and differs
from class to class.

21. Absorb food from plants or other substrates
(things they grow on)
They are Heterotrophs
Nutrition

22. Mechanism of Nutrition
• Haustorium, highly modified
stem or root of a parasitic
plant or a specialized branch
or tube originating from a
hairlike filament (hypha).
• The haustorium penetrates
the tissues of a host and
absorbs nutrients and water.

23. Some are Parasites!
Dutch Elm Disease
Athletes Foot

24. Reproduction in fungi
The mode of reproduction is referred
Vegetative reproduction – By budding, fission and
fragmentation
Asexual reproduction – This takes place with the help of
spores called conidia or zoospores or sporangiospores
Sexual reproduction – ascospores, basidiospores, and
oospores

25. -Asexual (will look like a clone)
- Reproduce with spores or budding
- Sexual( most diverse)
- produce with spores/fruiting bodies
REPRODUCTION
Sexual
reproduction gives
the most diverse
genes and increases
the chance for
survival.

26. CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGi
Based on Mode of nutrition classified into 3 groups.
1. Saprophytic – obtain their nutrition by feeding on dead
organic substances.
• Examples: Rhizopus, Penicillium and Aspergillus.
1. Parasitic –obtain their nutrition by living on other living
organisms (plants or animals)
• Examples: Taphrina and Puccinia.
1. Symbiotic – having an interdependent relationship
association with other species in which both are mutually
benefited. Examples: Lichens and mycorrhiza. .

27. Based on Spore Formation
1.Zygomycetes –The sexual spores are known as zygospores while the
asexual spores are known as sporangiospores. Example- Mucor
2.Ascomycetes – also called as sac fungi. The sexual spores are called
ascospores. Asexual reproduction occurs by conidiospores.
Example – Saccharomyces
3.Basidiomycetes – Sexual reproduction occurs by basidiospores.
Asexual reproduction occurs by conidia, budding or fragmentation.
Example- Agaricus
4.Deuteromycetes – They do not reproduce sexually. Asexual
reproduction occurs by conidia.Example – Trichoderma.

28. • Fungi by B.R. Vashishta & A.K. Sinha
• Textbook of Microbiology by R. P. Singh
• Textbook of Microbiology Dubey & Maheshwari.
• Google Search
References

29. Thank you