BIO153H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 31, 32: Arbuscular Mycorrhiza, Mycelium, Dikaryon
Document Summary
Some are single-celled (yeast) although majority have complex multicellular bodies. Essential for well being of most ecosystems: break down organic material and recycle nutrients, food source for humans, for applications in agriculture and in manufacturing products. Many fungi grow by forming multicellular filaments, a body structure that plays an important role in how they obtain food. Decomposers break down and absorb nutrients from non living organic material. Parasitic absorb nutrients from cells of living hosts some are pathogenic. Mutualistic absorb nutrients from a host organism but reciprocate with actions that benefit the host. Yeast inhabit moist environments where there is a ready supply of nutrients. Multicellular fungi form a network of tuny filaments called hyphae consist of tubular cell walls surrounding plasma membrane and cytoplasm of cells. Fungal cell walls are strengthened by chitin. Fungi are non-motile, but as they grow they can move into new territories.
