Fungi

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6

Lichens are sensitive to pollution, and their death can be a warning that air quality is deteriorating.

Lichen ++

Slide 38

Fungi as Pathogens + -

About 30% of known fungal species are parasites or pathogens, mostly on or in plants.

Some fungi that attack food crops are toxic to humans.

Animals are much less susceptible to parasitic fungi than are plants.

The general term for a fungal infection in animals is mycosis.

Slide 39

Fungal Diseases in Plants

(c) Ergots on rye

(a) Corn smut on corn

(b) Tar spot fungus on

maple leaves

Slide 40

Practical Uses of Fungi

Food: Humans eat many fungi and use others to make cheeses, alcoholic beverages, and bread.

Some fungi are used to produce antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections, for example the ascomycete Penicillium.

Genetic research on fungi is leading to applications in biotechnology:

For example, insulin-like growth factor can be produced in the fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Slide 41

Penicillium: Fungal production of an Antibiotic The mold penicillium produces an antibiotic that inhibits bacteria growth resulting in a clear area between the mold and the bacteria

Staphylococcus

Zone of

inhibited

growth

Penicillium

Slide 42

Review

Slide 43

You should now be able to:

List the characteristics that distinguish fungi from other multicellular kingdoms.

Discuss mycorrhizal fungi.

Describe the processes of plasmogamy and karyogamy.

Describe the evidence that multicellularity evolved independently in fungi and animals.

Slide 44

Describe the life cycles of Rhizopus stolonifer and Neurospora crassa.

Distinguish among zygomycetes, ascomycetes, and basidiomycetes.

Describe some of the roles of fungi in ecosystems, lichens, animal-fungi mutualistic symbioses, food production, and medicine and as pathogens.