PAT-201 – FUNDAMENTALS OF PLANT

PATHOLOGY (2+1)

Lec.No.1.GENERAL CHARACTERS OF FUNGI

Dr. P. Renukadevi
Professor (Plant Pathology)
Department of Plant Pathology
 What is Fungi?
Fungi
• Fungi are eukaryotic, achlorophyllous, unicellular or multicellular
organisms, either microscopic or macroscopic organisms that
reproduce by asexual and sexual means.
• Vegetative thallus is made up of network of hyphae called
mycelium.
• Cell wall of the fungi is made up of cellulose or chitin or both.
These organisms are classified under kingdom, Fungi.
• They are separated from the other eukaryotic kingdoms of plants
and animals.
• Hypha (Pl. hyphae; hyphe = web) the unit
structure of most fungi, a tubular filament.
• Mycelium (Pl. mycelia; Gr. mykes =
mushroom, fungus) Mass of hyphae
constituting the body (thallus) of a fungus.
• The individual filament is called hypha (pl.
hyphae).
• The mass of hyphae - mycelium (pl. Mycelia).
• The entire fungal body is thallus (pl. thalli).
• The mycelium may be intercellular or
intracellular.
Types of fungal thalli:
1. Plasmodium 2.Unicellular thallus
3.Multi cellular
1.Plasmodium (plasma = moulded body):
It is a naked, multinucleate mass of protoplasm moving and feeding in
amoeboid fashion
Eg. Plasmodiophora brassicae
Club root of Cabbage
2.Unicellular thallus: Consisting of a single cell Eg. Chytrids, Synchytrium

3. Multicellular thallus or filamentous thallus: Alternaria

Majority of fungi are filamentous
Consisting of a number of branched
Thread like filaments called hyphae
Eg. Many fungi, Alternaria
 Structure of Fungi

• Filaments of fungi - Septate

hyphae.
• The MYCELIUM - mat
of hyphae visible to
the unaided eye
( bread mold)
• Hyphae divided by
cross sections - septa

Aseptate - Coenocytic
 Septate and Aseptate mycelium
• The mycelium may be coloured or hyaline with
or without septations.
• Hypha is made up of tubular wall filled with
protoplasm and may be continuous or
separated by cross wall called septum (L.-
partition).
• Absence of septa is referred as aseptate or
coenocytic. (Gr) Koinos - common hytos -
hollow vessel.
 Types of mycelia
The hyphal mass or network of hyphae constituting the
body of the fungus is called mycelia.
Monokaryotic mycelium (uninucleate)
Mycelium contains single nucelus that usually forms part
of haplophase in the life cycle of fungi
Dikaryotic mycelium (binucleate)
Mycelium contains pair of nucelus that which denotes in
the diplophase in the life cycle of fungi
Homokaryotic mycelium
Mycelium contains genetically identical nuclei.
Heterokaryotic mycelium
Mycelium contains nuclei of different constituents.
Multinucleate
The fungi cell contains more than 2 nuclei.

Modification of fungal hyphae

1. Plectenchyma (Plekein= to weave , enchyma= infusion

Hyphae may have an altered shape and closely packed together easily
indistinguishable from true tissue of higher plants. Such pseudo tissue is
Plectenchyma.

Two types:
a. Prosenchyma
b. Pseudoparenchyma
a. Prosenchyma
The altered hyphae elements are visible as
hyphae and mostly linear cells lie
parallel to one another forming a loose
tissue and such tissue is Prosenchyma

b. Pseudoparenchyma

The modified hyphal elements are

oval or isodiameteric in shape
and closely packed.
Unicellular filamentous (tube-like strands called
hypha (singular) or hyphae (plural)
mycelium = aggregate of hyphae
 Septate mycelium
Non septate

Septate
Intercellular mycelium
• If the mycelium occurs in between the cells of
the host, it is called as intercellular mycelium.
• Eg. White rust or white blisters of crucifers-
Albugo candida
Intracellular mycelium
• If the mycelium occurs or present inside the
host cell, it is called as intracellular mycelium.
• Eg. Wilt of linseed - Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.
lini
 Inter cellular mycelium

Eg. White rust or white blisters of crucifers- Albugo candida

 Intra cellular mycelium

Eg. Wilt of linseed - Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lini

 Mycelium

Hyaline Coloured

Septate Non septate

Fusarium sp. Pythium Septate Non Septate
Eg. Wilt of Fruit rot of Alternaria sp. Fruit rot of jack
Pegionpea Cucurbits- Early blight of Rhizopus atrocarpi
P. aphanidermatum potato – A.solani
 Hyaline - Septate mycelium

Non septate mycelium

Pythium

Septate - Fusarium sp.

Coloured Mycelium
Septate, colored mycelium-
Alternaria sp.
 Aseptate - coloured mycelium
Jack fruit rot-Rhizopus atrocarpi
 REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES

Vegetative
structures Spores

Asexual
Dormant mycelium Resting bodies Eg. Zoospores Sexual
in seeds and other Eg. Rhizomorph, Oospores
plant parts Sclerotia and Zygospores
Chlamydospores Aplanospores Ascspoores
Conidia Basidiospores
RESTING BODIES

1.Rhizomorph
(Gr. rhiza = root + morphe = shape)
It is a thick strand of somatic
hyphae in which the hyphae have
lost their individuality with the Rhizomorph
whole mass behaving as an
organized unit. The structure of
the growing tip of the rhizomorph
resembles root tip.
Eg. Armillaria mellea (commonly
called shoe strings) - Citrus root
rot.
 Sclerotium
2.Sclerotium (Gr. Skleron= hard). It is a hard resting body resistant
to unfavourable conditions which may remain dormant for long
periods of time and germinate on the return of favourable
conditions.
• It may survive for long periods of time sometimes for several
years and thus represent the resting stage of the fungus.
• The sclerotia usually germinate to form hyphae or may form
reproductive structures.
Eg. Rhizoctonia solani - sheath blight of rice.
Sclerotium oryzae - stem rot of rice
Rhizoctonia bataticola - root rot of pulses
Claviceps purpurea - Ergot of rye
Scelrotia
3.Chlamydospore (Gr. Chlamys = mantle + spora = seed,
spore)
Individual cells of a hypha are converted into thick walled,
resting spores. They are rich in food reserves. It helps to
tide over unfavourable conditions.
It may be either terminal or intercalary.
Eg. Pigeonpea wilt - Fusarium udum
4. Stromata:

Any compact hyphal aggregation in or which

fructifications are formed are called as stromata.

These are compact somatic structures like mattresses.

Generally, sclerotia on germination form stromata in

which reproductive structures develop.
5. Pseudosclerotium (pl. pseudosclerotia):
 These sclerotia like bodies are formed at the base of
various fruit bodies of higher fungi (true fungi).

 These are sclerotia like structure composed of fungal

hyphae and friable material of the substratum bound
together.
 In Polyporus basilapiloides, the pseudosclerotia formed
below the soil surface are composed of sand particles
surrounded by hyphal aggregations.
6. Appressorium (pl. Appressoria):
An appressorium is a terminal simple or lobed swollen structure
of tip of the germtubes or infection hyphae that develop to
contact with the host.

From these minute infection peg usually grows and enters the
epidermal cell of the host.

It adheres to the surface of the host and helps in the penetration

of hyphae of the pathogen.
Appressoria are commonly formed by the parasitic members of
the order Erysiphales
7. Haustorium (pl. Haustoria):
These are mostly produced as intracellular absorbing structures
of obligate parasites.

They vary in shape and may be knob shaped or branched finger

shaped.

They secrete certain specific enzymes which hydrolyse the

proteins and carbohydrates of the host cell and thus they absorb
nutrients from the host without killing it.

Haustoria also provide a greater surface area for the exchange of

materials.
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Asexual reproduction does not involve union of sex

organs (gametangia) or sex cells (gametes) or nuclei.

Spores produced in asexual reproduction are called

mitospores / asexual spores.

Asexual spores are borne in spore bearing structure

called sporophore / sporogenous cells.
 Asexual reproduction
1. Fission of unicellular thalli:

Fission is simple splitting of cells into two daughter cells by

constriction and the formation of a cell wall. It is observed in
Schizosaccharomyces spp (fission yeast)

Fission in Schizosaccharomyces spp

2. Budding
Budding is the production of a small outgrowth (bud) from a parent
cell.

The nucleus of the parent cell divides and one daughter nucleus
migrates into the bud.

The bud increases in size, while still attached to the parent cell and
eventually breaks off and forms a new individual. It is common in
yeasts. (Saccharomyces sp.).
3. Fragmentation of mycelium

Mycelial fragments from any part of the thallus may grow into new
individuals when suitable conditions are provided.

4. Production of asexual spores

Reproduction by the production of spores is very common in many
fungi.
Spores: (Gr. 'Sporos - seed, spore) Minute propagative units of the
fungus. Spores are produced through asexual and sexual
reproduction. These spores are either coloured or hyaline and with
or without septations.
Asexual spores are formed without fusion of male and female
gametes.
Sexual spores are formed by fusion of male and female gametes.

1. Asexual spores
Sporangiospore (Gr. spora = seed, spore + angeion = vessel + spora).
It is a motile or non-motile asexual spore formed endogenously
within a sporangium.
Planospores - a motile spore, also called as Zoospores which possess
a swimming apparatus called flagella - Whiplash or tinsel like
structure with which zoospore move.
Eg. Pythium, Phytophthora, Plasmodiophora brassicae etc.,
Aplanospores: (Gr) A non motile spore. Eg : Rhizopus, Mucor.
Sporangiospore

Sporangiospore (Gr. spora = seed,

spore + angeion = vessel + spora).
It is a motile or non-motile
asexual spore formed
endogenously within a
sporangium
Planospores - a motile spore, also called as Zoospores
which possess a swimming apparatus called flagella -
Whiplash or tinsel like structure with which zoospore move.
Eg. Pythium, Phytophthora, Plasmodiophora brassicae etc.,

Planospores- Zoospores
Conidium (Conidia-Konis - Dust)
An asexually produced fungal spore formed
exogenously at the end of a stalk called conidiophore.
Eg. Erysiphe cichoracearum – Bhendi powdery mildew
 Classification of conidia based on colour and
septation

Septate Non-septate

Coloured Hyaline Coloured Hyaline

 Classification of conidia based on colour and
Septate septation
Coloured
Alternaria helianthi -Leaf blight of
sunflower

Helminthosporium oryzae -Brown spot

of rice

Alternaria alternata
 Coloured

Aspergillus sp. Non-septate

Penicillium sp
 Hyaline Spore Septate

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.udum

Wilt of Pigeon pea
 Non-septate

Hyaline spore
Colletotrichum capsici
(fruit rot & die-back of chilies)
 Asexual Fruiting Bodies

i Sporangium
ii Pycnidium
iii Acervulus
iv Sporodochium
V Synnema
vi Sorus
 Sporangium
(Gr. spora = seed, spore + angeion = vessel). It is a sac-
like structure; the entire protoplasmic contents
become converted into an indefinite number of spores.
Eg. White rust of Crucifers - Albugo candida
 Pycnidium
(Gr Pykon - Concentrated -I- idion - dimin) (PI. Pycnidia)
An asexual, hollow flask shaped fruiting body, lined inside
with conidiophores.
Eg: Macrophomina, Phoma, Diplodia, Botryodiplodia etc.
 Acervulus
Acervuli - Pl ) (L) Acervulus - heap
(

A mat of hyphae giving rise to short conidiophores

closely packed together and forming a bed like mass.
Eg: Colletotrichum capsici
Stroma (Gr) - Mattress. Compact somatic mat like
structure on which fruiting bodies develop.
 Sporodochium
(Gr - Sporos - Seed/Spore + Docheion -Container)
A cushion shaped stroma covered with
conidiophores. Eg: Nectria galligena, Fusarium sp.
 Synnema :
(Gr - Syn = together + Nema - Yarn)
A group of conidiophores cemented together and forming
elongated spore-bearing structure. Eg. Graphium, Cerotocystis

Conidia

Conidiophores

Synnema
 Sorus (Sori)
(Gr-Sorus- Heap). The spore bearing hyphae
Grouped into small to large masses or clusters
Eg: Puccinia, Hemileia (Rust) and Sporisorium (Smut)
 II. Sexual spores
Spores formed by the fusion of male and female
gametes produced by the fungi.
i) Oospore (Gr. Oon = egg + spora = seed / spore)
It is a thick-walled diploid spore that results from the
fusion of male and female gametes in oomycetus fungi.
Eg. 1. Damping off disease - Pythium aphanidermatum
2. Late blight of potato - Phytophthora infestans
 ii) Zygospore
(Gr. zygos = yoke + spora: = seed, spore)
It is a resting spore that results from the fusion of two
gametangia in the zygomycetes. Eg. Soft rot of sweet
potatoes - Rhizopus stolonifer
 iii) Ascospore
(Gr. Askos = sac+ sporos = seed, spore)
It is produced as a result of the fusion of male and female
gametes in ascomycetus fungi. They are produced inside a sac
like structure called ascus.
Eg. Powdery mildew of peas - Erysiphe polygoni
iv) Basidiospore
(Gr. Basidion = small base + spora = seed, spore)
It is produced as a result of the fusion of male and female
gametes in basidiomycetus fungi. They are produced outside
club shaped basidium.
Eg. Smut of sugarcane - Ustilago scitaminae, Bunt or stinking
smut of wheat - Tilletia caries
Pleurotus, Agaricus, Ganoderma, Armillaria etc.,

Pleurotus
 SEXUAL FRUITING BODIES

1. Ascocarp: (Gr) Ascus - Sac; Karpos - Fruit)

The fruiting body containing asci is termed as ascocarp.
Ascocarp may be formed singly or in groups. They may be
superficial - erumpent or deeply embedded inside the
substratum.

Types of ascocarp
i) Chaesmothecium
ii) Cleistothecium
iii) Apothecium
iv) Perithecium
v) Ascostroma / Pseudothecium
 i) Chaesmothecium
(Gr) Kleistos– Closed : theke – case; Completely closed ascocarp
with basal arrangement of asci (Eg.) Erysiphe, Leveillula, Uncinula
etc,

Under microscpore
 Cleistothecium:
Completely closed ascocarp with scattered asci. Eg. Penicillium
and Aspergillus
 iii) Apothecium :
(Apothecke - Store house) Saucer shaped open
ascocarp
Eg. Diplocarpon rosae, Sclerotinia spp.
 iv) Perithecium :
(Gr- Peri - around; theke – case) Flask shaped closed ascocarp
with an opening called ostiole and ascus wall is single Eg.
Claviceps
v) Ascostroma / Pseudothecium:
More or less flask shaped resembling perithecium whose asci are
not arranged in hymenial layer and asci with bitunicate wall and
disperse ascospores suddenly. Eg. Venturia inaequalis - Apple scab
There are four categories ascocarps.
i. Cleistothecium: Asci are produced in completely closed ascocarp.
ii. Perithecium: It is more or less closed ascocarp; but at maturity it
is provided with ostiole through which the ascospores escape.
iii. Apothecium: Ascocarp produce asci in open.
iv. Ascostroma or Pseudothecium: Stromatic ascocarp, which
bears asci directly in locules within the stroma.
Cleistothecial appendages are
of four types viz.

Curved tips e.g. Uncinula,

Pleochaeta.

Bulbous base and pointed tip.

e.g. Phyllactinia.

Myceloid appendages: e.g.

Erysiphe, Sphaerotheca and
Leveillula.

Dichotomously branched tips.

e.g. Microsphaera,
Podosphaera.
2. Basidiocarp
Fruiting body of basidiomycotina bearing basidiospores.
i). Mushroom – soft fruiting body without hymenial pore Eg.
Pleurotus and Agaricus
ii) Bracket – hard fruiting body with hymenial pores Eg.
Ganoderma
Basidiocarp
Thank you