Fungi

Fungi Meaning

Fungi are nucleated, spore bearing, non- vascular and achlorophyllous organism which generally reproduces asexually and sexually.

Fungi are large group of achlorophyllous organism organisms show parasitic saprophytic or symbiotic mode of nutrition.
They are eukaryotic and multicellular organisms except yeast (unicellular).
The plant body is called mycelium and individual filament is hypha.
The cell wall composed of fungal cellulose or chitin.
The reserve food materials remain in the forms of glycogen and oil globules.

The kingdom of fungi is classified into the following classes:

Useful activities

Several species of mushrooms (Agaricus campestris, A. biosporus) are used as food.
Some mushroom helps to prevent high blood pressure, blood cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc.
Some mushroom like Amillaria mellea are edible in nature and serious parasites of both hardwoods and conifers.
Several species of fungi are used in brewery, baking and cheese industry.
Well known antibiotics penicillin is extracted from the fungus Penicillium notatum.
Several fungi are utilized in the commercial production of various organic acids.

A plant hormone gibberellin is produced by Gibberella fujikuroi.
Some fungi are utilized for biological control of plants pests and insects which causes human disease.
The fungi like Chaetomium globosum, Polyporus abientinus help in recovering the soil nutrients.
Some fungi are used in different genetic studies eg. Neurospora
Some fungi like Aspergillus and penicillium are commonly used in cheese industry.
Some fungi like yeast are used in alcoholic fermentation.

Harmful activities

Some species of mushroom like Aminita verna, A. phalloides may cause the death, A.muscaria causes gastric disturbances.
Number of fungi like Mucor, Rhizopus, Penicillum, Aspergillus etc. causes rotting of fruits, vegetables, pickle, bread etc.
Several crop plants are destroyed by fungal diseases e.g. early blight of potato- Alternaria solani, white rust of crucifers- Albugo candida.
Several types of allergic disease in man caused by Aspergillus, Alternaria, Mucor, Yeast etc.
Fungi destroy timber and timber products e.g. Polyporous spp., Fusarium nigundi.
The glass components of optical instruments are spoiled by several types of fungi as Aspergillus niger, Albugo candida, Helminthosporium spp.
Alternaria, Penicillium, Rhizopus etc. causes destruction of wool, cotton etc.