Transcript Fungi
FUNGI A speck of dust lands on a cricket’s back. But this is no ordinary dust; it’s alive! Tiny glistening threads emerge from the dust and begin to grow into the cricket’s moist body. As they grow, the threads release chemicals that slowly dissolve the cricket’s tissue. Soon, the cricket’s body is little more than a hollow shell filled with a tangle of threads. Then the threads begin to grow up and out of the dead cricket, producing long stalks with knob at their tips. When a knob breaks open, it will release thousands of dust like specks, which the wind can carry to new victims. Characteristics • Eukaryotes • Have cell wall • Heterotrophs • Use spores to reproduce • Decomposers Fungi structure • Fungi are arranged in structures called hyphae. • Hyphae- are branching, threadlike tubes that make up the body of multicellular fungi. Fungi Structure Obtaining food 1. Fungus grows hyphae into the food. 2. Digestive enzymes ooze from the hyphae into the food. 3. The chemicals break down the food. 4. Nutrients are absorbed. Reproduction • Reproduce by making spores in a structure called fruiting bodies. • Asexual – Budding • Sexual Reproduction Sexual reproduction in bread mold Asexual reproduction Fungi Classification • Sac Fungi – Produce spores in structures that look like sacs. Yeast, morels, and truffles. • Club Fungi – Produce spores in tiny clublike structures. Mushrooms, rusts, and puffballs. • Zygote Fungi – Produce very resistant spores. Fruit and bread molds. Sac Fungi Club fungi Zygote fungi Role of Fungi in Nature • • • • • • Food Environmental recycling Disease-fighting fungi (Antibiotic Penicillin) Disease -causing fungi Fungus-plant associations Lichens (fungus & algae or fungus & bacteria) Environmental Recyclers Food Alexander Fleming 1929 Disease-Fighting Penicillin notatum Fungus-Plant Root Associations Lichens Fungus and either algae or autotrophic bacteria Fungus- provide shelter Algae or bacteria- provides minerals, water and food Review Assessment Class Project • Design a “Wanted” poster for a mold that has been ruining food in your kitchen. Present the mold as a “criminal of the kitchen.” Include detailed descriptions of the mold’s physical characteristics, what needs to grow, how it grows, and any other details that will help your family identify this mold. Propose ways to prevent new molds from growing in your kitchen.