Question

Explain the classification of fungi (point wise)-5mark

Answer 1

• Chytridiomycota or the Chytrids( this fungi has only one class- Chytridiomycetes) : Primitive of all fungi

  · One group has cellulose and chitin in cell wall, while others contain only chitin

  · Mostly unicellular though some may form multicellular organisms

  · Some live in aquatic environment while some also live in land
  

• Ascomykota or the Sac Fungi : Forms a sac shaped structure known as ascus which is contains haploid ascospores

  · Yeasts belong to this category and are used in baking purposes like many others belonging to this phylum

  · Humans, animals and plants can be their hosts

  · Asexual reproduction is common and frequent

  · Yeasts produce through the process of budding

• Basidiomycota or the Club Fungi : They contain spores present in a spore case called basidium. These spore cases are generally shaped like a club.

· A large number of spore production takes place.

· Spores hardly mature or germinate

· Alternation of generation is observed in their lifecycle

• Zygomycota or the Conjugated Fungi : Multiply very rapidly on breads

  · They are mostly saprobes, i.e. they get their nutrition from organic material which is decaying

  · Parasites to mostly insects

  · Contains a thallus of the coenocytic hyphae

  · Unfavourable conditions leads to sexual reproduction
  

• Glomeromycot (a recent addition to mycology) : Mostly associated with tree roots

  · No sexual reproduction takes place

  · Will not survive without roots of plants

  · Has a monophyletic lineage, that is , they all come from a common ancestor