Nutrition, Classification and Reproduction of Fungi
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Nutrition, Classification and Reproduction of Fungi Nutrition. Unlike green plants, which use carbon dioxide and light as sources of carbon and energy, respectively, fungi meet these two requirements by assimilating preformed organic matter; carbohydrates are the preferred nutrient source. Fungi can readily absorb and metabolize a variety of soluble carbohydrates, such as glucose, xylose, sucrose, and fructose, but are also characteristically well equipped to use insoluble carbohydrates like starches, cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. To do so, they must first digest these polymers extracellularly. Saprobic fungi obtain their food from dead organic material; parasitic fungi do so by feeding on living organisms (usually plants), thus causing disease. Mycology is the study of fungi. 1 Mycology is the study of fungi. Mycology is the study of fungi. 2 Mycology is the study of fungi. Mode of Nutrition: Absorption The mode of nutrition or the matter in which fungi "eat" is called absorption . Among eukaryotes, absorption is unique to the fungi. Fungi obtain their food by transporting it through their cell walls. In order to eat, the spores that give rise to fungi must be dispersed to a location where there is food and after the spore germinates, the mycelium of the fungus must grow into its food. Another word, usually fungi must live in their food if they are to eat. If the food is composed of simple molecules such as glucose or sucrose, soluble food can be immediately transported through their cell walls. However, most food that a fungus might consume is composed of complex, organic compounds, e.g., cellulose, lignin, pectin, starch, etc., which is insoluble . In order for this food to be utilized by the fungus, it must be broken down into simpler molecules that can be transported through their cell walls. The fungus breaks down the complex material by secreting digestive enzymes through their cell wall that will digest the complex organic compounds and convert them into simple molecules that can readily be transported through their cell walls. For example, If a fungus is growing in wood, digestive enzymes would be secreted from the 3 fungus, into the wood, and break down the complex compounds of wood, e.g. cellulose and lignin into simpler materials, such as simple sugars, which then can be transported into the mycelium. Food must enter the hyphae in solution, and, since most fungi have no special absorbing organs , the entire mycelial surface is capable of taking in materials dissolved in water. Some fungi, however, produce special rootlike hyphae, called rhizoids, which anchor the thallus to the growth surface and probably also absorb food. Many parasitic fungi are even more specialized in this respect, producing special absorptive organs called haustoria. Although this process may seem very different than our own means of obtaining food. It is not that different. The essential difference between fungi and animal digestive systems is that fungi digest their food first and then "eat" it, while animals eat their food before digesting it. It is important to understand here that different kinds of fungi will secrete only a specific number of different enzymes. This means that they can only "eat" certain materials. A summary of absorption is illustrated in Fig. 26, below: Figure 26: Illustration of the process of absorption, the mechanism by which fungi consume their food. Although yeasts are quite different in their appearance than mycelial fungi, their means of obtaining food is identical. 4 Naming and Classification of Fungi Taxonomy: A subject which deals with classification and naming of organisms is called taxonomy. The species name is called a binomial , which consists of two parts. The first part is the genus (plural: genera) and the second is the specific epithet . For example, the species name for the human animal is Homo sapien . When written, the species name is emphasized by italicizing or underlining the binomial. Each known species, once it has been described by science, is given a unique species name. Another words, there is only one valid scientific name that is unique to a species regardless of where it may be found. Classification of Organisms All organisms are classified into following three domains: a. Eukarya – eukaryotic organisms, the Eukaryotes b. Bacteria- prokaryotic organisms, the true Bacteria c. Archaea- prokaryotic, Archaebacteria The Domain is a relatively new level in the classification system. The Domain eukarya is divided into five Kingdoms namely Plants, Animals, Fungi, Stramenopila and Protista. Fungi are very distinct from the other kingdoms. The Kingdom Protista is a “dumping ground” for organisms that don’t fit into the first three kingdoms. The kingdom Stramenopila includes organisms such as the former fungi Oomycota as well as brown algae and several other types of algae. The classification of fungi is generally based on the following criteria: i. Morphology of reproductive structures ii. Types of spores formed iii. Characteristics of the life cycle iv. Morphology of the thallus v. Habit vi. Habitat 5 The Fungi are classified as a kingdom that is separated from plants, animals and bacteria. One major difference is that fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike the cell walls of plants, which contain cellulose. These and other differences show that the fungi form a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi ), that share a common ancestor (a monophyletic group ). This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar slime molds (myxomycetes) and water molds (oomycetes). According to Ainsworth fungi were classified into two kingdoms: a) Kingdom: Myxomycota (Slime molds) b) Kingdom: Eumycota (true fungi) Eumycota were grouped into five sub-division, viz. i. Mastigomycotina (Lower fungi) ii. Zygomycotina (Lower fungi) iii. Ascomycotina (Higher fungi) iv. Basidiomycotina (Higher fungi) and v. Deuteromycotina (Higher fungi) Sub- Division: Mastigomycotina was classified into four classes: i. Chytridiomycetes ii. Hyphochytridiomycetes iii. Oomycetes iv. Plasmodiophoromycetes 6 Fungi and fungus like organisms Kingdom Eumycota/Mycota Kingdom Slime molds Stramenopila Phylum/ Division Phylum/ Phylum/ Division Division Myxomycota Oomycota Chytridiomycota Plasmodiophorom Hyphochytridio ycota Zygomycota mycota Dictyosteliomycota Labyrinthulomycota Ascomycota Acrasiomycota Basidiomycota Deuteromycota 7 Reproduction of fungi Fungi exhibit three major modes of reproduction - vegetative, asexual and sexual. Vegetative Reproduction - It is the type of reproduction which involves the somatic portion of the fungal thallus. It occurs by the following methods. Fragmentation: In this process, the mycelium breaks into two or more similar fragments either accidentally or due to some external force. Each fragment grows into a new mycelium. Budding : The parent cell produces one or more projections called buds, which later develop necessary structures and detach to grow into new individuals. Budding is common in unicellular forms like yeast. Fission : In this process, the parent cell splits into two equal halves, each of which develop into a new individual. Fission is also common in yeast. 8 9 Sclerotia : In some cases, the hyphae become interwoven to form a compact mass and get surrounded by a hard covering or rind. Such structures are called sclerotia, remain dormant under unfavourable conditions and germinate into new mycelia on the return of favourable conditions. Rhizomorphs : In some higher fungi, several hyphae may become interwoven to form rope-like structures called rhizomorphs. Under favourable conditions, they resume growth to give rise to new mycelia. Asexual Reproduction : The asexual (imperfect, mitotic) state of fungi is termed the anamorph. It is the types of reproduction in which special reproductive structures called spores or propagates are formed. The fungal spores always result from mitosis and hence are described as mitospores. Following are the types of spores produced in different groups of fungi: a. Zoospores : They are flagellated, motile spores produced inside structures called zoosporangia. These spores do not have a cell wall. Such spores are produced in lower fungi. b. Sporagiospores : These are non-motile spores produced inside structures called sporangia in fungi such as Zygomycota. c. Chlamydospores: These are thick walled resting spores which arise directly from hyphal cells. They store reserve food. d. Oidia: These are spore like structures formed by the breaking up of hypha cells. They do not store reserve food and hence cannot survive under unfavourable conditions. Such spores are produced in Erysiphe spp. e. Conidia : These are non-motile spores produced singly or in chains at the tip of the hypha branches that are called conidiophores. Such spores are produced in fungi like Aspergillus and Penicillium. Sexual Reproduction 10 Sexual reproduction is known to occur in all groups of fungi except the Fungi imperfecti or Dueteromycetes. It may involve fusion of gametes, gametangia or hyphae. The process may involve only fusion of cytoplasm (plasmogamy) or fusion of nuclei (karyogamy) or production of meiotic spores (meiospores) In most of the lower fungi plasmogamy is immediately followed by karyogamy and meiosis. In higher fungi karyogamy is often delayed so that the hyphae remain dikaryotic. This phase of fungal life cycle is called dikaryophase. Such fungi complete their life cycle in three phases a haplophase, a dikaryophase and