B.Sc 1st sem botany notes of Gulbarga university
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that include microorganisms such as yeasts,
moulds and mushrooms.
Following are the important characteristics of fungi:
1. Fungi are eukaryotic, non-vascular, non-motile and heterotrophic
organisms.
2. They may be unicellular or filamentous.
3. They reproduce by means of spores.
4. Fungi exhibit the phenomenon of alternation of generation.
5. Fungi lack chlorophyll and hence cannot perform photosynthesis.
6. Fungi store their food in the form of starch.
7. Biosynthesis of chitin occurs in fungi.
8. The nuclei of the fungi are very small.
9. The fungi have no embryonic stage. They develop from the spores.
10.The mode of reproduction is sexual or asexual.
11.Some fungi are parasitic and can infect the host.
12.Fungi produce a chemical called pheromone which leads to sexual
reproduction in fungi.
13.Examples include mushrooms, moulds and yeast.
Kingdom Fungi are classified based on different modes. The different
classification of fungi is as follows:
On the basis of nutrition, kingdom fungi can be classified into 3 groups.
1. Saprophytic – The fungi obtain their nutrition by feeding on dead
organic substances. Examples: Rhizopus, Penicillium and Aspergillus.
2. Parasitic – The fungi obtain their nutrition by living on other living
organisms (plants or animals) and absorb nutrients from their host.
Examples: Taphrina and Puccinia.
3. Symbiotic – These fungi live by having an interdependent relationship
with other species in which both are mutually benefited. Examples:
Lichens and mycorrhiza. Lichens are the symbiotic association between
By Ayesha parveen(B.Sc,B.Ed,MBA) Page 1
, B.Sc 1st sem botany notes of Gulbarga university
algae and fungi. Here both algae and fungi are mutually benefited as
fungi provide shelter for algae and in reverse algae synthesis
carbohydrates for fungi. Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic association present
between fungi and plants. Fungi improve nutrient uptake by plants,
whereas, plants provides organic molecules like sugar to the fungus.
Kingdom Fungi are classified into the following based on the formation of
spores:
1. Zygomycetes – These are formed by the fusion of two different cells.
The sexual spores are known as zygospores, while the asexual spores are
known as sporangiospores. The hyphae are without the septa. Example –
Mucor.
2. Ascomycetes – They are also called sac fungi. They can be coprophilous,
decomposers, parasitic or saprophytic. The sexual spores are called
ascospores. Asexual reproduction occurs by conidiospores. Example –
Saccharomyces.
3. Basidiomycetes – Mushrooms are the most commonly found
basidiomycetes and mostly live as parasites. Sexual reproduction occurs
by basidiospores. Asexual reproduction occurs by conidia, budding or
fragmentation. Example- Agaricus.
4. Deuteromycetes – They are otherwise called imperfect fungi as they do
not follow the regular reproduction cycle as the other fungi. They do not
reproduce sexually. Asexual reproduction occurs by conidia. Example –
Trichoderma.
Rhizopus reproduce by all the three processes, i.e. vegetative, asexual and
sexual
Vegetative reproduction is by fragmentation and each of the fragments of a
stolon develops separately making a complete mycelium
Asexual reproduction is by the formation of sporangiospores and
chlamydospores
1.Formation of Sporangiospores: Sporangiospores are formed terminally in
sporangia of aerial mycelium called sporangiophores. They are formed under
favourable conditions.
Sporangiophores develop from the upper side of the rhizoidal node
By Ayesha parveen(B.Sc,B.Ed,MBA) Page 2
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that include microorganisms such as yeasts,
moulds and mushrooms.
Following are the important characteristics of fungi:
1. Fungi are eukaryotic, non-vascular, non-motile and heterotrophic
organisms.
2. They may be unicellular or filamentous.
3. They reproduce by means of spores.
4. Fungi exhibit the phenomenon of alternation of generation.
5. Fungi lack chlorophyll and hence cannot perform photosynthesis.
6. Fungi store their food in the form of starch.
7. Biosynthesis of chitin occurs in fungi.
8. The nuclei of the fungi are very small.
9. The fungi have no embryonic stage. They develop from the spores.
10.The mode of reproduction is sexual or asexual.
11.Some fungi are parasitic and can infect the host.
12.Fungi produce a chemical called pheromone which leads to sexual
reproduction in fungi.
13.Examples include mushrooms, moulds and yeast.
Kingdom Fungi are classified based on different modes. The different
classification of fungi is as follows:
On the basis of nutrition, kingdom fungi can be classified into 3 groups.
1. Saprophytic – The fungi obtain their nutrition by feeding on dead
organic substances. Examples: Rhizopus, Penicillium and Aspergillus.
2. Parasitic – The fungi obtain their nutrition by living on other living
organisms (plants or animals) and absorb nutrients from their host.
Examples: Taphrina and Puccinia.
3. Symbiotic – These fungi live by having an interdependent relationship
with other species in which both are mutually benefited. Examples:
Lichens and mycorrhiza. Lichens are the symbiotic association between
By Ayesha parveen(B.Sc,B.Ed,MBA) Page 1
, B.Sc 1st sem botany notes of Gulbarga university
algae and fungi. Here both algae and fungi are mutually benefited as
fungi provide shelter for algae and in reverse algae synthesis
carbohydrates for fungi. Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic association present
between fungi and plants. Fungi improve nutrient uptake by plants,
whereas, plants provides organic molecules like sugar to the fungus.
Kingdom Fungi are classified into the following based on the formation of
spores:
1. Zygomycetes – These are formed by the fusion of two different cells.
The sexual spores are known as zygospores, while the asexual spores are
known as sporangiospores. The hyphae are without the septa. Example –
Mucor.
2. Ascomycetes – They are also called sac fungi. They can be coprophilous,
decomposers, parasitic or saprophytic. The sexual spores are called
ascospores. Asexual reproduction occurs by conidiospores. Example –
Saccharomyces.
3. Basidiomycetes – Mushrooms are the most commonly found
basidiomycetes and mostly live as parasites. Sexual reproduction occurs
by basidiospores. Asexual reproduction occurs by conidia, budding or
fragmentation. Example- Agaricus.
4. Deuteromycetes – They are otherwise called imperfect fungi as they do
not follow the regular reproduction cycle as the other fungi. They do not
reproduce sexually. Asexual reproduction occurs by conidia. Example –
Trichoderma.
Rhizopus reproduce by all the three processes, i.e. vegetative, asexual and
sexual
Vegetative reproduction is by fragmentation and each of the fragments of a
stolon develops separately making a complete mycelium
Asexual reproduction is by the formation of sporangiospores and
chlamydospores
1.Formation of Sporangiospores: Sporangiospores are formed terminally in
sporangia of aerial mycelium called sporangiophores. They are formed under
favourable conditions.
Sporangiophores develop from the upper side of the rhizoidal node
By Ayesha parveen(B.Sc,B.Ed,MBA) Page 2
