Mycology

Fungi, fungi, biological characteristics, significance

LIVING THINGS
3 DOMAINS of Life:
BACTERIA
Prokaryotic Cells

ARCHAEA
Prokaryotic Cells

EUKARYA
Eukaryotic Cells

(Semi-Living Things)
Viruses
Non-cellular

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Protista
Single-celled, Autotrophs or Heterotrophs, variable

Kingdom Plantae
Multicellular (mostly), Autotrophs, Producers

Kingdom Animalia
Multicellular (mostly), Heterotrophs, Consumers

Kingdom Fungi
Multicellular (mostly), Heterotrophs, Decomposers

Mycology
Mycology from Greek mykes = mushroom, cap & logos = discourse, study. Fungus (Fungi) Latin, from the greek Sphongous = sponge-like, spongy.

Mycology
Mushrooms, Toadstools, Boletes, Yeasts, Molds, Mildews, Puffballs, Stinkhorns.

FUNGI
Huge group of very successful organisms found in virtually all ecological niches on Earth. Largest single organism on Earth is a fungus.
(Armillaria ostoyae)

~100,000 species* so far described, but there are likely many more (up to 2 million).
Inadequate sampling *Species? Individual?

Traditionally, fungi (particularly mushrooms) have been studied by botanists, however, they are achlorophyllous.

Fungi vs fungi
Fungi are a monophyletic (closely related) group of organisms all sharing a common ancestry and evolutionary history, and sharing many common characteristics.

TRUE Fungi
fungi are organisms that share many characteristics with Fungi (and so superficially resemble them), but DO NOT share a common ancestry and evolutionary history.

fungus-like organisms

FUNG-ISMS
Myco mycetes mycota mycotina

Pathogenic/pathogen vs free-living Dimorphism (Anamorph, Teliomorph --Holomorph)

Characteristics of Fungi
Heterotrophic (Saprobic or Parasitic)
Extracellular digestion
Enzymes (hydrolytic, proteases, etc.) break down macromolecules dimers & monomers. These digestion products are then absorbed.

An adaptive morphology allows for sufficient surrounding of food and sufficient energy intake to counteract the energy spent in digestive enzyme production

Characteristics of Fungi
Most are filamentous (adaptive morphology for increased surface area).
Vegetative body called a Mycelium (pl. Mycelia). A Mycelium is composed of numerous Hyphae (sing. Hypha), each 1 cell wide.

Characteristics of Fungi
Some are small uni-cells
Yeasts Chytridiomycota
Yeasts

Filamentous Stage

Chytrids

Characteristics of Fungi

Cell Wall

Characteristics of Fungi
Cell Wall is composed of Chitin.
Complex, N-containing Polysaccharide (a carbohydrate polymer). Helps maintain osmotic pressure in the cells.

Characteristics of Fungi
The vegetative (somatic) body of a fungus is the Mycelium: the absorptive, adult, feeding stage.

Hyphae
Septa (sing. Septum) are partitions between hyphal cells. Aseptate taxa are coenocytic (multinucleate). Septate taxa typically have a Septal Pore.

Characteristics of Fungi
Rhizomorphs root like masses of hyphae.

Characteristics of Fungi
A fraction of the vegetative mycelium is devoted to reproduction. Specialized hyphae bearing Spores. Spores are tiny propagules.

Spores
Dispersal Protection Survival Reproduction.

Asexually-produced spores are disseminative. Sexually-produced spores are reproductive AND disseminative.

Asexually-Produced Spores
Spores are borne on hyphal tips called Conidia (sing. Conidium) or in Sporangia (sing. Sporangium).

Asexually-Produced Spores
Produced by Mitosis & Cell Division. Clones (genetically-identical progeny) are produced.

Sexually-Produced Spores
Spores are borne on unique and specialized structures, depending on the type of fungus. Produced by Meiosis & Cell Division. Genetically-unique progeny are produced. Sexual Reproduction = combined genetic contributions of two parents. Life cycles.

Life Cycles
HAPLOID STAGE (1N)

MEIOSIS

FERTILIZATION

DIPLOID STAGE (2N)

Gametic Life Cycle

1N

2N

Gametic Life Cycle

Meiosis produces gametes (sperm or egg).

1N

2N

Zygotic Life Cycle

Meiosis produces spores (mini-zygotes).

1N
(Spores)

(Gametes here produced by Mitosis)

2N

Classification of Fungi

Classification of Fungi
Fungi comprise a monophyletic group broken into 4 lineages (therefore also 4 Phyla): Phylum: Chytridiomycota Phylum: Zygomycota Phylum: Ascomycota Phylum: Basidiomycota
Phylum: Deuteromycota is an artificial group representing fungi that do not or have yet to exhibit a sexual stage (meiosis & syngamy).

Phylogeny of Fungi

Morphological Character state changes

Chytridiomycota (chytrids)

Chytridiomycota
Swimming Zoospores.

FUNGI

Zygomycota

The Bread Molds

Zygomycota
Sporangium (sporangia)
Asexual spores

Zygomycota
Zygospore
Sexual spore

(Suspensors)

Zygomycete Life Cycle

Glomeromycetes
Mycorrhizal Fungi
(Endomycorrhizal) VAM fungi: Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae

FUNGI

Ascomycota

Morchella esculenta

The Sac Fungi

Ascomycota
Ascus (sac) is where the sexual spores (Ascospores) are borne. 8 Ascospores are typical in each ascus.

Ascomycete Life Cycle

FUNGI

Basidiomycota

The Club Fungi

Basidiomycota
Sexual Basidiospores borne on a Basidium. 4 spores per Basidium.
Basidiospores
Basidium

Basidiomycete Life Cycle

Studying FUNGI
Both Macroscopic and Microscopic organisms. Cultures
1-member, 2-member Growth Media (sing. Medium)
Agar, Broth

Petri Plates or Culture Tubes.

Significance & Importance

1. Sources of important chemicals
Medicines.
Antibiotics like Penicillin, Cephalosporin. Eastern Medicine, herbal remedies, anti-tumor, etc. Plant growth hormones, steroids.

Metabolites Mycotoxins, biological control agents. Transformative enzymes.

Alcohol fermentation with CO2 production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast). Cheese ripening, sausage production, miso

Significance & Importance

2. Food sources.
Mushrooms
Shiitake, Oyster, Porcini, Portobello, Morel, Truffle Wild Mushrooms.Poisonings.

Cheeses, Miso, Beer, Wine, Bread. Cultivationby humans and other animals. Natives of Mexico & Central America hallucinogenic religious rites involving Psilocybe cubensis. (more recently studied by Wasson, McKenna, & others). Mushroom effigies associated with many primitive (& modern) cultures.

3. Spiritual ceremony & shamanism.

Significance & Importance

4. Ecosystem Contributions
Decomposers of cellulose, lignin (wood).
(often found in human-manufactured items)

Control of nutrient cycling. Soil retention. Mycorrhizal associations with plants. Potato blight (Oomycete) Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma sp.) Ergot of Rye (Claviceps purpurea)

5. Plant pathogens

Significance & Importance

6. Animal Pathogens
Insects (Oomycetes, Laboulbeniales, Septobasidium). Humans (mycoses) Ringworm, histoplasmosis, yeast infections.

7. Scientific lab rats

Especially Genetics Schizophyllum commune, Neurospora

THINK LIKE A FUNGUS

How do I get food? How can I compete? How can I protect myself? What associations with other organisms are important?