Monday February 8, 1999
Announcements: Review Session tonight at 110 Wartick Lab, from 6:30-7:30

Lecture notes:

General Characteristics
They are all non-photosythetic (Heteroptrophs)
They are multicelled. (2 exceptions)
Most are saprophytes-feeding on the remains of dead organisms or the byproducts or organisms.
Some are parasites-feeding on organic matter that is still part of a living host.
2 predators-Arthrobotrys dactyloides

Each individual filament is a called a hypha(ae)
* Some have crosswalls to separate cells.
* In some, the walls between cells disappears.
* All transport nutrients to other parts of the organism.

They so 2 things "eat and reproduce"
They can decompose almost anything organic from dead leaves to jet fuel.
Because their "bodies" are so filamentous, they can survive where organic material is dilute or scarce.
Digestion occurs outside the fungal body. EXTRACELLULAR DIGESTION
Spore formation is part of the life cycle.
Some fungi have a dikaryotic stage to the life cycle. A dikaryotic stage occurs when two gametes meet, the cytoplasm unites, but the nuclei do not.
Fungi often have cells with central vacuoles.
Cell walls contain Chintin.

Zygospores: most are saprophytes (some parasites) live in the soil, on decaying plants and on stored food.

Reproduction: the zygote produced has a very thick wall called a zygospore which can protect
the zygote during a long dormancy.

Examaples: bread mold (rhizopus), pilobolus.

Sac Fungi: Most numerous group of Fungi. (some are pathogens) Yeasts belong to this class and are single celled.

Reproduction in yeast: Yeasts reproduced by budding or fission, or by fusion of gametes.

Reproduction in remaining sac fungi: The remaining sac fungi reproduce by making as ascocarp which
produces haploid spores in pouch-like cells called asci.

Examples: yeast, morels, truffles, penicillium

Club Fungi: Important plant decomposers

Reproduction: the reproductive structure is a basidiocarp (stalk and cap). The spore producing structures are
on the gills under the cap.

Examples: mushrooms, rusts, smuts, toadstools.

"Imperfect" Fungi: Named because scientists haven't fouind a sexual phase to their reproduction, or they have none.
Many are plant and animal pathogens. Aflatoxin produced by an imperfect fungus is a potent
carcinogen.

Example: ringworm fungus, athletes foot fungus, jock itch