Scribd
Upload
53 views6 pages

Fungal Classification and Characteristics

Fungi, classified as a separate kingdom by Robert H. Whittaker in 1969, are heterotrophic, multicellular organisms with a body structure primarily consisting of hyphae that form mycelium. They reproduce through vegetative, asexual, and sexual means, with sexual reproduction involving plasmogamy, karyogamy, and meiosis, leading to the formation of fruiting bodies. Fungi are categorized into four main groups: Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetes, each with distinct characteristics in mycelium structure, reproduction, and examples.

Uploaded by

inosukeisnotagirl
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
53 views6 pages

Fungal Classification and Characteristics

Fungi, classified as a separate kingdom by Robert H. Whittaker in 1969, are heterotrophic, multicellular organisms with a body structure primarily consisting of hyphae that form mycelium. They reproduce through vegetative, asexual, and sexual means, with sexual reproduction involving plasmogamy, karyogamy, and meiosis, leading to the formation of fruiting bodies. Fungi are categorized into four main groups: Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetes, each with distinct characteristics in mycelium structure, reproduction, and examples.

Uploaded by

inosukeisnotagirl
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CLASSIFICATION

KINGDOM FUNGI :
o Made into a separate kingdom by Robert H.
Whittaker in 1969.
o They are stained with cotton blue.
o Study of fungi is called mycology.
 General characters:
 They are achlorophyllous, heterotrophic,
thallophytic plant, the body is haploid.
 They are parasitic, saprophytic, sometimes may
be symbiotic with algae as in lichens or with
roots of higher plants as in mycorrhiza.
 They are multicellular filamentous. But may be
unicellular (as in yeast). These filamentous
structures are called hyphae. They get branched
and sub branched to form a complex network
called mycelium. The hypha with cross walls
(septate) may contain one or two or many nuclei.
The multinucleate condition is called a
coenocytes (aseptate)
 These hyphal walls are made up of cellulose,
pectose, callose and chitin (NAG polymer)
 The septa may be complete or may be perforated
and contain central pore.
 In many fungi (basidiomycetes) the septal pore
may have barrel shaped inflation, these are called
dolipore septum.
 They store the food in the form of glycogen and
oil.
 Reproduction is of three types a) vegetative b)
asexual and c) sexual. [details are explained in
the next page]
 Sexual reproduction consists of three phases:
i. Plasmogamy – fusion between two
compatible cytoplasm.
ii. Karyogamy – the two nuclei brought
together by plasmogamy fuses to undergo
karyogamy. But in ascomycetes and
basidiomycetes an intermediate stage is
reached and karyogamy is often delayed.
Each pair of nuclei of different parentage is
known as dikaryon (n+n). This dikaryotic
condition is called dikaryophase. The fusion
of the nuclei results in a diploid condition
called diplophase (synkaryon).
iii. Meiosis – meiosis of the zygote to restore the
original haploid condition.
 After sexual reproduction, a special type of spore
bearing body is formed which is called fruiting
body or fructification etc.
 Fungal classification:
CRITERIA PHYCOMYCETES ASCOMYCETES BASIDIOMYCETES DEUTEROMYCETES
Mycelium Aseptate and Branched and septate Branched and septate. Septate and branched
coenocytic hyphae Two types – primary
and secondary. They
have dolipore septum
Asexual Zoospore (motile) or Conidiopsore May form oidiospore. Mostly by conidiospore
reproductio aplanospores (non- Typical asexual
n motile). May form spores are absent.
chlamydospores for
perennation.
Sexual Isogamous, Formation of Basidiospore are The sexual stages are
reproductio oogamous or ascopsores ( 4 to 8 in exogenously borne on not discovered. This
n anisogamous. number) within ascus. basidium group is purely an
artificial assemblage of
fungal species waiting
to be included in
appropriate classes.
Once their perfect
sexual stages are
discovered they are
moved to either
basidiomycetes or
ascomycetes.
Fruiting No fruiting body Ascocarp Basidiocarp ------
body
Examples Mucor, Rhizopus, Saccharomyces Puccinia, Ustilago, Trichoderma, Botrytis,
Albugo, cerevisiae, Penicillium, Agaricus, Pleurotus, Nigrospora, Monilia,
Phytophthora Aspergillus, Claviceps, Polyporus, Amanita Helminthosporium
Morchella, oryzae
Neurospora,
Trichophyton,
Cercospora

You might also like