01Fungi Introduction.pptVIP

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * What Is a Fungus? The study of fungi Greek mykes = mushroom logos = discourse What is Mycology? Mycologist = a scientist who studies fungi What is a Fungus? Fungus = singular (The ‘g’ is pronounced like god) Fungi = plural (The ‘g’ is pronounced like jive) What Is A Fungus? Characteristics of Fungi: All are Eukaryotes What does Eukaryotic mean? What does Prokaryotic mean? Mitosis in a Living Fungus Hickey and Read, 2003 Aspergillus nidulans What Is A Fungus? Characteristics of Fungi: Most Comprised of hyphae that elongate by Tip Growth Hyphae collectively comprise the mycelium Fusarium verticilliodes spore germination Sagaram, Shim and Shaw How big is this cell? Vote: bigger than a human hair or smaller? Aspergillus nidulans spore germination Upadhyay and Shaw A Fairy Ring Kendrick Kendrick Kendrick How big can a mycelium get? Largest Living Thing Is a 2,200-Acre Fungus in Oregon (3.5 square miles) (AM campus is 5,000 acres) Estimated to be 2,400 years old Armillaria ostoyae /archive/story1b080700.html A Humongous Fungus What Is A Fungus? Characteristics of Fungi: Almost all reproduce by means of spores Most reproduce sexually, but also asexually Most are haploid throughout most of their life cycle Kendrick What Is A Fungus? Characteristics of Fungi: All are heterotrophs with absorptive nutrition (saprotrophs) They have no chlorophyll and are not autotrophic What Is A Fungus? Characteristics of Fungi: Cell walls of most contain Chitin a structural polymer of glucose Plants=cellulose Animals=no cell wall Unique cell wall structure What Is A Fungus? Fungi are multi-cellular organisms, with a unique system of “Cell Compartmentalization” Hickey and Read, 2003 Septum formation Neurospora crassa What is a Fungal Cell? Fungal Hyphae of many species contain septa. System for “Cell Compartmentalization” make fungi fundamentally different from other multi-cellular organism. Moore-Landecker Hickey and Read, 2003 Hyphal Growth and Septat