Question

Fungi are cosmopolitan. Write the role of fungi in your daily life

Answer 1

Introduction

Fungi are widely distributed all around the world. Thus they are cosmopolitan. Fungi plays various roles, which includes:

• Decomposers
• Mycorrhizal
• Nutrition
• Secondary metabolites.
• Model for research

Decomposers

• Fungi are important decomposers in the ecosystems.

Mycorrhizal

• Mycorrhizal fungi form a symbiotic association with certain plants and are important for the growth of those plants.

Nutrition

• Mushrooms, morels, and truffles are different types of fungi consumed by humans. Thus contributing to the nutrition of human beings.
• Fungi are agents of fermentation in manufacturing of bread, cheeses, alcoholic beverages, and food preparations.

Secondary metabolites.

• Secondary metabolites produced by fungi are used as medicines like antibiotics and anticoagulants. Cyclosporin A produced by Trichoderma is used as an immunosuppressive agent.

Model for research

• Fungi serves as model organisms (eg. Neurospora) for the study of eukaryotic genetics and metabolism.