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Chapter 21
Kingdom Fungi
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Characteristics of fungi
Most fungi possess a filamentous body plan
Fungi reproduce by spores
Fungal diversity
Chytrids have flagellated spores
Zygomycetes reproduce sexually by forming zygospores
Lichens are symbiotic relationships between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism
Economic and medical impact of fungi
Fungi provide beverages and food
Fungi are important to modern biology and medicine
Plants and the Environment: Fighting the Chestnut Blight
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
1. Describe the distinguishing characteristics of the kingdom Fungi.
2. Explain the fate of a fungal spore that lands on an appropriate food source.
LECTURE OUTLINE
I. What features characterize the kingdom Fungi?
A. What is the chemical composition of fungal cell walls?
B. What are heterotrophs? Decomposers? Parasites?
C. In what habitats are you likely to find fungi?
II. What body structures are found in fungi?
IV. What is the characteristics of the five phyla of fungi?
A. What are some examples of the phylum Chytridiomycota?
1. Do they have flagella?
2. Are they unicellular? Multicellular?
3. In terms of fungal evolution, where are the chytrids placed?
B. What are some examples of the phylum Zygomycota?
1. What are the roles of the sporangium and the zygospore?
2. Which stages and structures in the life cycle are haploid and which are diploid?
3. What are microsporedia, and what are some of their characteristics?
C. What are some examples of the phylum Glomeromycota?
E. What are some examples of the phylum Basidiomycota?
1. On a typical mushroom, what are the stalk, cap, gills, basidia, and basidiospores?
2. How is the primary mycelium formed?
3. How is the secondary mycelium formed? What is its nuclear condition?
4. How do the basidia produce basidiospores?
5. Which stages and structures in the life cycle are haploid and which are diploid?
2. What are the three lichen growth forms?
VI. In what ways are fungi economically and medically important?
KEY TERMS
aflatoxin, p. 425
ascomycete, p. 412
dikaryotic, p. 407
fruiting body, p. 406
mycelium, p. 406
mycorrhizae, p. 411
TEACHING TIPS
1. Leave slices of preservative-free bread or flour or corn tortillas out in your kitchen for a
few hours, then mist lightly with water and place in a plastic bag. Most likely, fungal
2. Spore prints are fun and easy to make. Collect wild mushrooms or purchase commercial
varieties; pick ones that are not fully open. Remove the stipe and place the tops on a
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3. Find some fruit that has begun to spoil and mold. Bruised oranges often sport
4. Collect samples of plants showing signs of fungal diseases. Many roses and other
5. Make a culture of yeast cells to show budding. Mix a tablespoon of baker’s yeast
6. Ask students to figure out why wild bears have been observed to stagger about after
eating large quantities of fallen fruit in the fall.
8. Use visual aids such as overheads and slides to show life cycles during lecture. Point
out the haploid and diploid stages and when meiosis occurs.
9. Bring in food items that are produced with fungi. Cheeses such as Brie, Roquefort, blue,
10. Bring in a variety of grocery store fungi. The common mushroom is Agaricus bisporus,
which is a decomposer of litter and is cultured commercially in composted straw and
11. Lichens are fairly common, even in cities. Specimens will keep for years on the shelves
of a classroom.