BIOLOGY PAPER REVIEW

DEFINITION, MORPHOLOGY, AND ROLE OF FUNGI & PROTISTS

GROUP 3

1. Betty Mouren Manullang (23020121120005)

2. Angelique Gangsar Listya (23020121120007)
3. Shesy Noor Fauziah (23020121120011)
4. Amalina Dwi Nurazizah (23020121120014)
5. Tri Damaito Sitohang (23020121120025)
6. Samuel Kevin Setiawan (23020121110034)
7. Naufal Ulwan Hasbi (23020121130055)
8. Valentia Agatha Yurina (23020121130062)
9. Yohanna novelina siahaan (23020121130063)
10. Azalia Rachma Tara (23020121130068)

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE

DIPONEGORO UNIVERSITY

2021
Abstract

This paper aims to explain the meaning, morphology, and the role of fungi and protists
in life on earth.

Mushrooms or fungi are organisms that are often found in humid places and conditions.
Fungi (fungus) have the characteristics of eukaryotic organisms, do not have chlorophyll, and
reproduce sexually and asexually. There is a beneficial role from the existence of this fungi,
namely as a food source for humans, assisting the fermentation process, as medicine, and as a
decomposer. In addition, there is also the role of harmful fungi, which can produce toxins that
are harmful to living things, can cause disease in humans, act as deteriorating agents, and can
reduce the quality of food and other ingredients. Protists are eukaryotic microorganisms but
are not included in animalia (animals), plantae (plants), and fungi (mushroom), and most
protists are unicellular. There are beneficial protist microorganisms such as Euglena viridis,
Caulerpa racemose, Chlorella, Laminaria digitalis, and other beneficial protist
microorganisms. In addition, there are harmful protist microorganisms, such as Entamoeba
histolitica, Trypasonoma cruzi, Leishmania tropica, and other harmful protist microorganisms.

Keywords: fungi, protists, organisms, microorganisms, role

Introduction

Until the twentieth century, there were five kingdoms that scientists used to classify
living things, namely Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protists, and Bacteria. This grouping system is
based on several criteria, such as the presence of a nucleus and other membrane-bound
organelles, the presence of a cell wall, and multicellularity (Turvey, 2015). However, in 1977,
a scientist named Carl Woese discovered a unique way of grouping living things after he
compared the nucleotide sequences of the smallest subunit ribosomal RNA. Based on the
differences in cell wall components and ribosomal RNA, Woese suggested that all life on earth
evolved along three lineages called domains. The three domains include Bacteria, Archaea, and
Eukaryotes (Verma, 2016). Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotes. They both lack a nucleus
and other membrane-bound organelles, like centrioles, ribosomes, etc. While Eukaryotes which
includes the kingdom Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and Protista. The discovery of Carl Woese has
changed the system of grouping living things into six kingdoms, namely Archaebacteria,
Eubacteria, Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and Protista.
 Fungi comes from the Latin fungus which means mushroom. Kingdom Fungi includes
a wide variety of living things which are collectively referred to as Eumycota or true fungi (Liu
et al., 2015). As eukaryotic, cells have a nucleus and many membrane-bound organelles.
Although it was once considered a plant, DNA comparisons have proven that Fungi are more
closely related to animals. Fungi cannot photosynthesize, but they get their energy source from
complex organic compounds. Other eukaryotes, protists, are single-celled eukaryotes whose
habitat is in places containing water (sea or freshwater), wet soil, leaves, and other moist places
(Mangot et al., 2018). Although the protist kingdom is dominated by tiny, single-celled
organisms, there are some protists that are large and multicellular, for example seaweed.

Definition of Fungi

Fungi are one of the organisms belonging to the heterotrophic group of organisms,
which require organic compounds to meet their nutritional needs (Fitriani et al, 2018). Fungi
are also eukaryotic organisms, do not contain chlorophyll, and reproduce sexually and
asexually. Fungi are classified into two types based on their size, namely, macroscopic fungi
that are large and can be seen with the naked eye, and microscopic fungi that are small and can
only be seen using a microscope. Fungi have an important role in the ecosystem because they
act as decomposers capable of breaking down organic materials such as protein, cellulose,
hemicellulose, lignin, and starch compounds with the help of enzymes. This is following the
opinion (Rahma et al, 2018) which states that fungi have an important role in the ecosystem
because fungi act as decomposers and balance the diversity of forest species.

The Parts and Functions of Fungi

 1. Sporangium : box containing sores (Silifster, 2017). Production of spores
through mitosis with cytoplasm cleaving to produce haploid spores, storing and
protecting the spores until they are mature enough to be released in the environment
and be a new individual.
1. Spores : agents of asexual reproduction to developing new individual.
2. Sporangiophore : be in the form of stalk to bearing sporangia thereon.
3. Stolon : vegetative propagation, support fungi to grow and spread
properly.
4. Rhizoid : supports fungi and aids in the absorption of nutrients and
minerals. According to Muhajir (2017) rhizoids are shaped like anchors that are
embedded in the substrate to absorb nutrients.

The Beneficial Role of Fungi

1. Source of food for humans

Several types of fungi can be used for foodstuffs that have high nutritional content
(Widawati and Sari, 2019). Fungi can be cooked directly or processed first into flour.
Fungi can also be used as a substitute for food, such as meat and sausages. The types
of fungi used as food ingredients are Pleurotus (jamur tiram), Volvariella volvacea
(jamur merang), Auricularia polytricha (jamur kuping), enoki, shitake, and truffle.
2. Helps the fermentation process
Fermentation is a simple and primitive biochemical process to produce energy (ATP)
under anaerobic conditions (without oxygen) using microorganisms (Munira et al.,
2016). Fungi are one of the microorganisms that determine the success of the product
in the fermentation process. Examples of products fermented with fungi are tempe with
the help of the fungi Rhizopus oligosporus, alcoholic beverages and bread with the help
of the fungi Saccharomyces cerivisiae, and tape with the help of the fungi
Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae.
3. As medicine
Several types of fungi can be used to treat diseases, such as Ganoderma lucidum,
Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium notatum. Ganoderma lucidum is used as an
antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antiallergic, antioxidant, antihepatitic, analgesic, anti-
HIV, and immune system herbal medicine (Handrianto, 2017). Penicillium notatum and
 Penicillium chrysogenum as producers of penicillin antibiotics for allergy drugs
(Cahyana et al., 2021).
4. Decomposer
In agriculture, fungi decompose the remains of organic matter into inorganic
compounds, so that they can fertilize the soil by providing nutrients for the soil and
plants (Salmiah et al., 2020). Examples of fungi that act as decomposers are
Saprophytic fungi, Pilobolus crystallinus and Mycorrhizae.

Harmful Role of Fungi

1. Can produce toxins that are harmful to living things
The Amanita Phalloides mushroom, has a toxin that will not go away even after
cooking. As a result, it will cause severe irritation and pain, can even damage the eyes
and skin, and even cause death.
2. Causes of disease for humans
Fungi can be the cause of disease for humans, such as tinea versicolor caused by the
fungus Trichophyton sp., there is also ringworm (Microsporum sp.) and athlete’s foot
(Epidermophyton floccosum), and respiratory disease Aspergillosis (Aspergillus).
3. Fungi can a deterioration agent
Fungi can decompose the food we store, for example we stored food in a humid place,
this can make the food overgrown with Aspergillus flavus. This fungus will cause food
to rot, and can produce aflatoxin toxins, which have carcinogenic properties and if
accidentally consumed by humans, can cause liver cancer.
4. Can reduce the quality of food and other ingredients.
In food we often found there are parts that are black, white, and blue, this indicates that
the food has rotted due to fungus. When food has been exposed to mold, it can be
dangerous to health because the spores can be eaten, exposed to the skin, or inhaled.

Definition of Protists

Protists are eukaryotic microorganisms but are not included in animals, plants, or fungi,
and most protists are unicellular. This is in accordance with the opinion of Wijarini et al, (2020)
which states that protists are microscopic creatures belonging to eukaryotic microorganisms,
autotrophs or heterotrophs, unicellular or multicellular. Protists are classified into 3 that are
protists like animals, protists like plants, and protists like fungus. This is in accordance with
the opinion of Hariyani et al, (2017) which states that protists are divided into protists like
animal (protozoa), protists like plant (algae), and protists like fungus.

The Parts and Functions of Protists

1. Lysosomes
Function for intracellular digestion because they contain hydrolytic enzymes.
2. Trychocysts
Function as a defense to protect the cells in it
3. Oral Groove
Serves to enter food particles into the body of the Paramecium.
4. Gullet
Functions as an intermediary for the passage of food into the food vacuole.
5. Anal Pore
Function to remove excess water as a result of osmoregulation carried out by
contractile vacuoles.
6. Cilia
Function as appendages such as hair that helps move and feed the
paramecium.
7. Food Vacuoles
Function to digest food while circulating it throughout the cell.
8. Macronucleus
Function to monitor metabolic activities, growth, and regeneration.
 9. Micronucleus
Functions to control reproductive activities, and the large nucleus.
10. Contractile Vacuole
Function to expel liquid food residue by contracting / pulsating.

Beneficial roles of protists:

1. Euglena viridis acts as an indicator of water/river pollution.

2. Caulerpa racemosa (sea grapes) are used as vegetables and fresh vegetables. Sea grapes
are very beneficial for human health because they contain secondary metabolites (Rachmad,
2021).

3. Chlorella is used as PST (single cell protein) which is produced into food supplements and
cosmetics. Chlorella has the highest and most complete nutritional content of food compared
to other food commodities. In addition, chlorella also contains health components to prevent
diseases caused by infection and non-infection and has a cleaning component (Sukiman,
2018).

4. Laminaria digitalis as a producer of iodine for goiter.

5. Gelidium robustum, Rhodophyta and Eucheuma spinosum are used as agar materials.

6. Palmaria palmata (dulse), Porphyra, Chondrus crispus, and Mastocarpus stellatus are
processed into soup, salad, pizza, and nori.

7. Turbinaria australis, Sargassum silquosum, and Fucus vesiculosus are used to make
ointments and ice cream.

8. Navicula is used for insulating materials, abrasive materials, dynamite insulating materials,
and used for cement mixtures.

9. Entamoeba coli in the human large intestine is useful for spoilage of food waste and
synthesizing vitamin K.

10. Foramifera fossils are used to detect the presence of petroleum.

Harmful Protists
Some types of protists are parasitic which means they can cause disease. The following are
examples of types of protists that cause disease in other living things like humans, animals, and
plants.

1. Entamoeba histolitica, causes dysentery (amebiasis).

2. Trypanosoma cruzi, causes anemia in children.
3. Leishmania tropica, causes the disease leishmaniasis which causes leiso (pathological
sores) on the skin or digestive organs.
4. Trychomonas foetus, causes spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) in livestock.
According to Inounu (2017), transmission of Trichomoniasis disease occurs when
coitus is transmitted to the fetus, resulting in miscarriage of the fetus.
5. Saprolegnia parasitica, is a fungus-like protist that is parasitic on the scales and gills
of injured fish.
6. Trypanosoma evansi, causes Surrah disease in cattle, goats, horses. Surrah is a disease
caused by Trypanosoma evansi which is transmitted mechanically by blood-sucking fly
vectors (Ndiha et al., 2018).
7. Phytoptora nicotine, parasites and causes disease in tobacco plants.
8. Plasmopora viticola, is a parasite on grapes.
9. Cephaleuros, causing damage to the leaves of tea, coffee, pepper, cloves, citrus, and
other tropical plants.
10. Spongospore subterranean, is a parasite on potato plants.

Conclusion
Based on the data that has been collected from various sources, the following
conclusions can be drawn: (1) Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms, do not contain
chlorophyll, and reproduce sexually and asexually. The beneficial roles of fungi are as a food
source for humans, assisting the fermentation process, as medicines, and as decomposers.
While the role of harmful fungi is that they can produce toxins that are harmful to living things,
can cause disease in humans, act as deteriorating agents, and can reduce the quality of food and
other ingredients. (2) Protists are eukaryotic microorganisms but are not included in animalia
(animals), plantae (plants), and fungi (mushroom), and most protists are unicellular. There are
various protist microorganisms that are beneficial and detrimental to living things and
ecosystems.
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