Along with bacteria, these are the most important Decomposers in the biosphere. They convert dead, organic matter into its inorganic components. Pathogenic/parasitc fungi have specialized hyphae called haustoria, which are used to invade the host's cells and create a nutrient pathway between fungus and host. Lichens are very effective at absorbing nutrients directly from the atmosphere, and for this reason are very sensitive to smog.They are important primary producers in harsh environments such as tundra. Several major taxa of fungi are generally recognized... Chytridiomycota (the "chytrids") Zygomycota (the black bread molds) Ascomycota (the sac fungi) Basidiomycota (the club fungi)

1. Prepared By
Roksana Aftab Ruhi
B.Sc in Ag
M.Sc in Plant Pathology
Fungi

2. General Characteristics
 Most fungi are eukaryotic, multinucleate, multicellular organisms,
except yeasts which are unicellular.
 Cell wall present, composed of chitin or cellulose.
 Food storage generally in the form of lipids and glycogen.
 True nucleus present.
 All fungi requires water and oxygen
 Vegetative phase of fungus is generally sedentary

3. Some Terms need to know…..
 Mycelium : Aggregate of Hyphae
 Figure: Hyphal growth form spore
Mycelia are the body of the fungi while the hypha may be
regarded as the building blocks of fungi
Mycelia are highly branched and dense while hyphae are not as
branched.

4. Continued…..
 Sclerotium : Hardened mass of mycelium.
 Hyphae: Hyphae are the tubular projections of
multicellular fungi; hard wall of chitin.

5. Continued….
 Lichens:
Symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algae or an
cyanobacterium.Most of the fungi involved are Ascomycota.
 Types:
1. Crustose ; form flat crusty plates
2. Foliose; leafy in appearance
3. Fruticose ; more finely branched and may hang down like
beards from branched.

6. Continued…
 Lichens Ecology
1. Can grow in very in hospitable environments-on rocks,sides,
gravestones
2. Very sensitive to air pollution ;natural indicators of quality.

7. Classification
 Criteria for classification:
1. Morphology of reproductive structures
2. Types of spores formed
3. Characteristics of life cycle
4. Morphology of the thallus.

8. Fungi and Fungus like
organisms
Kingdom
Eumycota
Phylum
Chytridiomycota
Zygomycota
Ascomycota
Basidiomycota
Deuteromycota
Slime moulds
Phylum
Myxomycota
Plasmodiophoro
mycota
Dietyostelio
mycota
Acresiomycota
Kingdom
Stremonopila
Phylum
Hypochytridio
mycota
Oomycota
Labyrinthub
mycota

11. Generalized Life Cycle of a Fungus

12. Human-Fungus Interaction
 Beneficial Effects
I. Decomposition-nutrient and carbon recycling
II. Can be used to produce drugs, antibiotics, alcohls, acids,foods.
III. Model organism for biochemical and genetic studies.
IV. Yeasts baking and brewing
V. Steroids and hormones e.g. the pills
VI. Agents of biodegradation and biodeterioration.
 Harmful Effects
I. Destruction of food ,paper and cloth
II. Animal and human diseases including allargies
III. Plant diseases
IV. Destroy almost every kind of manufactured goods.