Question

discuss the major groups of fungi giving typical e.g of each group ​

Answer 1

Answer:

The Major Groups Of Fungi

The fungi are heterotrophic thalloid plants having unicellular sex organs without sterile coverings and involve the process of meiosis immediately after fertilization. The study of fungi is known as mycology.

Important features of Fungi

1. Fungal cell wall is made up of chitin

2. Fungi are heterotrophic and they are the major decomposers in the environment

3. They are mostly saprophytic in habit but many parasitic forms are witnessed

4. Body is made up of hyphae which form mycelium

5. Reproduce asexually by spores and sexually by fusion of hyphae.

90,000 species of Fungi are described.

Though there are many mycologists who had classified fungi into different phyla, the recent classification is as follows

Phylum - Chytridiomycota – Ancestral fungi. Chytrids are the oldest fossil fungi. They are aquatic and shoe flagellated gametes. Cell wall is made up of chitin resembling the modern fungi. Parasitic or saprophytic in nature.

Phylum – Zygomycota – They are commonly called zygote fungi or conjugation fungi. They are terrestrial in habit and are saprophytic, feeding on decaying organic matter. Some are parasitic. They have coenocytic hyphae which lack cross walls or septae. During gamete formation septae develop in the hyphae. Bread molds, Mucor, Rhizopus belong to this phylum. Both sexual and asexual reproduction are seen. Sexual reproduction results in the fusion of hyphae, and arehence, called zygote fungi. Zygospores are formed in sporangia during asexual reproduction.

Phylum – Ascomycota

They are commonly known as sac fungi. Ascomycetes form the largest group among fungi. Asexual and sexual reproduction are seen. Formation of ascus or sac in which ascospores are formed. Cup fungi, morels, and truffles are seen in this group. Yeast is an ascomycete.

Phylum - Basidiomycota – They are called ‘club fungi’. Most familiar fungi like mushroom, puffballs, shelf fungi, rusts, and smuts belong to this group.Nearly 15,000 known species of club fungi are seen. Spores are basidiospores borne by a club shaped basidium. Spores are seen externally. Agaricus, bracket fungi, and Puccinia are examples of this group.

Deuteromycetes – This phylum is also included by some mycologists. They are called ‘fungi imperfecti’. They reproduce by forming conidia and conidiospores. Sexual reproduction is absent. Septate mycelium is seen. Penicillium, Fusarium, and Cercospora are examples for deuteromycetes.