Fungal Biology Study Notes
1. History of Mycology
Mycology, the study of fungi, emerged as a distinct science in the 19th century.
Initially, fungi were misclassified as plants until advancements in microscopy
and molecular biology revealed unique characteristics.
Important milestones include:
- Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1670s): Observed fungal spores under a
microscope.
- Carl Linnaeus (1753): Included fungi in plant taxonomy.
- Heinrich Anton de Bary (1850s): Proposed the role of fungi in diseases, such
as potato blight.
- Alexander Fleming (1928): Discovered penicillin from Penicillium fungus.
2. General Characteristics of Fungi
- Eukaryotic organisms with distinct nuclei and membrane-bound organelles.
- Composed of filaments called hyphae forming a network called mycelium.
- Mostly heterotrophic, absorbing nutrients from organic material.
- Exhibit a life cycle with sexual and asexual phases.
- Primarily reproduce by spores, which can be sexual (ascospores,
basidiospores) or asexual (conidia, sporangiospores).
3. Thallus Organization
- Unicellular: Yeasts are single-celled fungi.
- Multicellular filamentous: Most fungi have a mycelium composed of hyphae.
- Mycelium Structure: Can be septate (divided by cross walls) or coenocytic
(without cross walls).
- Pseudohyphae: Found in yeasts, these chains of budding cells resemble
hyphae but are distinct.
4. Cell Wall Composition
- Composed mainly of chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural support.
- Also contains glucans and mannoproteins for rigidity and flexibility.
- Lacks cellulose, which distinguishes fungal walls from plants.
5. Nutrition in Fungi
- Heterotrophic Absorbers: Secrete enzymes to digest organic matter externally
and absorb nutrients.
- Types of nutritional modes:
- Saprophytic: Feed on dead organic matter.
- Parasitic: Depend on a living host for nutrients.
- Mutualistic Symbionts: Form beneficial relationships, e.g., mycorrhizae with
plants.
6. Reproduction in Fungi
- Asexual Reproduction: Involves spore formation via mitosis. Spores can be
produced on sporangia (e.g., sporangiospores) or hyphal structures (e.g.,
conidia).
- Sexual Reproduction: Involves meiosis and the fusion of two compatible
nuclei to form zygospores, ascospores, or basidiospores.
- Plasmogamy: Fusion of cytoplasm from two parent cells.
- Karyogamy: Fusion of nuclei from the fused cells.
- Meiosis: Produces haploid spores from diploid cells.
7. Classification of Fungi (Alexopoulos et al., 1996)
- Chytridiomycota: Water molds, producing zoospores with flagella.
- Zygomycota: Terrestrial fungi, like bread molds (e.g., Mucor), forming
thick-walled zygospores.
- Ascomycota: Sac fungi, with ascospores in asci; includes yeasts and morels.
- Basidiomycota: Club fungi, forming basidiospores; includes mushrooms.
- Deuteromycota: Fungi lacking sexual reproduction, now considered part of
Ascomycota or Basidiomycota based on molecular analysis.
8. Slime Molds (Myxomycetes)
- Characteristics: Exhibit both fungal and protozoan characteristics; primarily
amoeboid.
- Life Cycle:
- Vegetative Stage: Single-celled amoeboid or multinucleated plasmodium.
- Reproduction: Forms fruiting bodies with spores. Spores disperse and
germinate into amoeboid or flagellated cells.
- Types: Cellular slime molds and plasmodial slime molds, differing in cellular
organization.
9. Chytridiomycota
- Characteristics: Aquatic fungi with flagellated spores, unique among fungi.
- Morphology: Simple structure, often unicellular; some form rhizoids for
anchoring.
- Reproduction: Mainly asexual via zoospores; sexual reproduction produces
resting spores.
10. Zygomycota
- Characteristics: Terrestrial, often saprophytic fungi.
- Morphology: Coenocytic mycelium; no septa except in reproductive
structures.
- Reproduction:
- Asexual: Sporangiospores formed in sporangia.
- Sexual: Formation of zygospores after gametangia fusion.
11. Ascomycota
- Characteristics: Known as sac fungi, they produce ascospores in sac-like
asci.
- Morphology: Can be unicellular (yeasts) or multicellular with septate hyphae.
- Reproduction:
- Asexual: Formation of conidia.
- Sexual: Ascospores develop within asci, often enclosed in fruiting bodies
like ascocarps.
12. Specific Examples
- Taphrina
- Morphology: Parasitic fungi that infect leaves, causing deformities.
- Life Cycle: Forms naked asci directly on infected plant surfaces; no
ascocarps.
- Morchella (Morels)
- Morphology: Complex fruiting bodies with honeycomb-like structures.
- Reproduction: Ascospores develop in asci located in the fruiting body
(ascocarp), facilitating spore dispersal.
