what are mycota? mention the features & give example.
Answers
Answer:
Kingdom Mycota consists of eukaryotic organisms.
Fungi exist in two fundamental forms; multicellular, filamentous or hyphal form (molds) and unicellular or budding form (yeast).
They lack chlorophyll (chloroplast) and can’t prepare their own food, hence are called organotrophic heterotrophs.
Most of them are saprophytic and some are parasitic.
They grow best in acidic environment tolerating acidic pH.
They can also tolerate high sugar concentration and dry condition.
Molds are obligate aerobes and yeasts are facultative anaerobes.
Optimum temperature of growth for most saprophytic fungi is 20-300C while 30-370C for parasitic fungi.
Fungi grow slowly as compared to bacteria.
Cell wall is composed of chitin.
Cell membrane consists of ergosterol.
Both asexual and sexual mode of reproduction occur
Asexual methods: fragmentation, somatic budding, fission, asexual spore formation
Sexual methods: gametic copulation, gamete-gametangium copulation, gametangium copulation, somatic copulation and spermatization.
More than 2,00,000 species of fungi are known, of which more than 100 fungi are responsible for human infection.
Some fungi show mutualistic relationship with higher plants, eg. Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association with the roots of gymnosperms.
Classification of fungi:
Unlike that of bacteria, the classification of fungi is based primarily on the characteristics of the sexual spores and fruiting bodies present during the sexual stages of their life cycles.
However, the complete or perfect life cycles of many fungi are as yet unknown.
Based on the spore bearing structures, in which the spores are produced, fungi are classified into four divisions.
Ascomycota
Basidiomycota
Zygomycota
Deuteromycota
Ascomycota (Sac fungi):
A sac like structure called ascus produces or bears sexual spores called ascospores.
Sexual reproduction occurs by single celled or multi-celled conidia.
Also known as sac fungi.
Hyphae are generally septate.
Examples: Saccharomyces, Arthroderma, Gibberella
Basidiomycota (Club fungi):
Sexual spores called basidiospores are produced externally on a club shaped
Asexual reproduction occurs by budding, fragmentation or conidia formation
They are commonly called as mushroom group.
Hyphae are generally septate.
Examples: Amanita, Agaricus, Filobasidiella
Zygomycota (Zygote forming fungi):
Sexual spore called Zygospore is formed by the fusion of two similar cells.
Asexual reproduction occurs by sporangiospore
Hypahe are generally aseptate.
Examples: Rhizopus, Mucor, Basidiobolus, Conidiobolus
Deuteromycota (Imperfect fungi):
These fungi are also known as fungi imperfecti.
No sexual stage is present.
Asexual reproduction occurs by means of conidia.
They are pathogenic to most of the human beings and animals.
Examples: Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, Histoplasma
Importance of fungi:
Recycling: Since fungi are also decomposers, along with bacteria, they play a major role in recycling the dead and decayed matter.
Medicines: Penicillin antibiotic is derived from a common fungi Penicillium. Many other antibiotics like cephalosporin, griseofulvin etc. are also synthesized by fungi which are used to control diseases in humans and animals.
Food:
Many mushrooms are used as food by humans. Mushroom species are edible and are cultured in many parts of the world for sale.
Different types of food like kimchi, kinema, bakery products, brewery products are manufactured using fungi like Aspergillus, yeast etc.
Bio-control Agents: Fungi are used to parasitise or kill insects which help control pests. Spores of fungi are sprayed on crops, this method is cheaper and environment friendly.
Plant and Animal Diseases: Many fungi live on and in plants and animals causing diseases like blight disease in potato, rust disease in wheat, oral thrush and ringworm infection in humans etc.
Food spoilage: Fungal damage is responsible for large losses of stored food usually when the food contains moisture and sugar.
Answer:
➡️➡️ an alternative taxonomic name for the Kingdom fungi called mycota.
features :
- Motile absent.
- chlorophyll absent.
- most multicellular some unicellular.