Unique Characteracterics

• Studied by mycologists
• Tradtionally classified as plants
• Unlike plants due to lack of chlorophyll
• Like plants due to immobolity and linear growth form

 Unique Charcterics Continued....

• Fungi are filamentous, plants are three dimesional
• Compostion of cell walls differ
• Plants photosynthesize, fungi absorb after secretion of enzymes and extracelluar digestion
• Some plants have flagellated sperm while fungi do not

Economic Value of Fungi

Many are harmful

• They cause decay, rot and spoilage
• They cause serious plant and animal diseases

Econmic Value Of fungi

Many of beneficial

• Yeasts are used in the manufacture of bread and beer
• Used to flavor cheese,wine and other foods
• Industrial production of acids, antibiotics and chemical syntheses
• Detoxify environment

Nutrition and Ecology

1. Fungi and bateria are the principal decomposers in every ecosystem

• They break down lignin, a major part of food
• Provides building blocks for growth of other organisms
• Some fungi attack still living organic matter
• Causes agriculture damage
• Destroy food stores making them unpalatable or poisnous

Important Mutualistic Associations

• Lichens=fungi+green algae or cyanobacteria
• Mycorrhizae=fungi+plant roots
• Photosynthetic partner fixes carbon dioxide and provides food
• Fungal portion enhances existence within a particular habitat
• Mycorrhizae facilitate absorption of essential nutrients