Lec1 Fungal Taxonomy Dr. Hamzia Ali

Lec1 Fungal taxonomy Dr.
Hamzia Ali
Mycology - the study of fungi
General characteristics of true fungi
1. All are eukaryotic: Possess membrane-bound nuclei (containing

chromosomes) and a range of membrane-bound cytoplasmic organelles
(e.g. mitochondria, vacuoles, endoplasmic reticulum…..).
2. Most of fungi are filamentous: Composed of individual microscopic

filaments called hyphae, which exhibit apical growth and which branches
to form a network of hyphae called mycelium.
3. Some of fungi are unicellular: Some fungi consist of one cell

containing all organles such as yeasts.
4. Protoplasm of hyphae or a rigid wall surrounds cell of fungi: Consists

of primarily of glucans and chitin, although the cellulose enters in walls
composition of some species.
5. Many of fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually: Production of

spores in fungi formed as a result of sexual and asexual reproduction in
most cases.
6. Fungal nuclei are typically haploid and hyphal compartments are often
multinucleate: Although the diploid nuclei present in Oomycota and in
some yeasts.
8. Nutrition categories of fungi are chemoheterotrophic (chemo

organotrophic): They utilize organic sources of carbon in their
environment as carbon source and the energy from biochemical reactions
of organic compounds oxidation, they require for growth and energy
9. Storage compounds: Food storage is generally in the form of lipids

glycogen and sugar alcohols.
10. May be free-living or may form intimate relationships with other

organisms: i.e. may be free-living, parasitic or mutualistic (symbiotic).
Morphology of fungi :-
Fungi exist in two fundamental forms; the filamentous (hyphal) and

single celled budding forms (yeast). But, for the classification sake they
are studied as:
1. Moulds (Molds): Filamentous type of growth Ex: Aspergillus sp.,
2. Yeasts: Single celled cells that buds Ex: Saccharomyces cerviciae
3. Yeast like: Similar to yeasts but produce pseudohyphae (chains of

conidia binding together) Ex: Candida albicans
4. Dimorphic: Fungi existing in two different morphological forms at two

different environmental conditions. They exist as yeasts in tissue and in
vitro at 37º C and as moulds in their natural habitat and in vitro at room
temperature. Eg: Histoplasma, Blastomyces . Candida albicans
Mold
Their basic cellular units described as hyphae (singular: hypha). Hyphae

of fungi may be branched and their dense mass called as mycelium.
Hypha form is usually a tubular cell developed from growing spore and
surrounded by a rigid, chitin-containing cell wall. The hypha extends by
tip growth, and multiplies by branching, creating a fine network called a
mycelium. Hyphae contain all organs including nuclei, mitochondria,
ribosomes, Golgi and membrane-bound vesicles within a plasma
membrane bound cytoplasm. The sub-cellular structures supported and
organized by microtubules and endoplasmic reticulum.
Each hypha is essentially a tube consisting of a rigid wall and containing
protoplasm .Tapered at its tip - this is the region of active growth (i.e. the
extension zone).
Septa (cross-walls), if present, usually been observed down a light
microscope. Some fungi possess septa (that divide the hyphae into
separate cells) at regular intervals along the lengths of their hyphae. In
others, cross-walls form only to isolate old or damaged regions of a
hypha or to isolate reproductive structures. Some septa possess one of
more pores – such septa divide the hyphae into a series of interconnected
hyphal compartments, rather than separate, discrete cells. Coenocytic
hyphae lack septa .
Inner to the cell wall is the plasma membrane that is a typical bi-layered
membrane in addition to the presence of sterols. Fungal membranes
possess ergosterol in contrast to cholesterol found in mammalian cells.
Mycelium are of three kinds:

1. Vegetative mycelium are those that penetrates the surface of the
medium and absorbs nutrients.
2. Aerial mycelium are those that grow above the agar surface
3. Fertile mycelium are aerial hyphae that bear reproductive structures
such as conidia or sporangia.
Since hypha is the structural unit of mould, the mycelium imparts colour,
texture and topography to the colony .
A-Those fungi that possess melanin pigments in their cell wall are called
phaeoid or dematiaceous and their colonies are coloured grey, black or
olive. Examples, Cladosporium,
B-Those hyphae that don't possess any pigment in their cell wall are
called hyaline.
Yeast
Yeasts are unicellular spherical to ellipsoid cells. They reproduce by

budding, which result in blastospore (blastoconidia) formation. In some
cases, as the cells buds the buds fail to detach and elongate thus forming a
chain of elongated hyphae like filament called pseudohyphae. This
property is seen in Candia albicans. The same species also have the
ability to produce true hypha, which is seen as germ tube. The difference
between the two is that there is a constriction in psueudohyphae at the
point of budding, while the germ tube has no constriction.
True yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerviciae don't produce
pseudohyphae. Yeast-like fungi may be basidiomycetes, such as
Cryptococcus neoformans or ascomycetes such as Candida albicans.
Reproduction in fungi:
Fungi reproduce by asexual, sexual and parasexual means.
Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is the commonest mode in most fungi with fungi
participating in sexual mode only under certain circumstances. The form
of fungus undergoing asexual reproduction is known as anamorph (or
imperfect stage) and when the same fungus is undergoing sexual
reproduction, the form is said to be teleomorph (or perfect stage). The
whole fungus, including both the forms is referred as holomorph.
(Taxonomically, the teleomorph or the holomorph is used, but practically
it is more convenient to use the anamorph.)
Asexual reproduction: Asexual propagules are termed either spores or
conidia depending on their mode of production. Asexual spores are
produced following mitosis where as sexual spores are produced
following meiosis.
Types of asexual spore
Fungi produce two major types of asexual spore: Sporangiospores and

Conidia.
Sporangiospores characteristic:
1.Endogenous - formed and contained within a sporangium .
2.They formed because of the cleavage of protoplasm around nuclei.
3.Formation of a wall around each nucleate portion of protoplasm follows

in some cases.
4.A characteristic of fungi belongs to the zygomycetes ,chytridiomycota,

oomycota and hyphochytridiomycota.
5.They include two main types. They are zoospores (motile) and
aplanospores (non-motile).
Figure: Asexual reproduction of fungi,

A:zoospore,B:sporangiospore,C:chlamydospore, D:oidia , E: conidia
Conidia:
Conidia are Exogenous - often formed at the tip of supporting hyphae

called conidiophores Develop in a variety of ways. Conidia
characteristics include mitosporic fungi and fungi belonging to the
ascomycota and basidiomycota. It includes two main types-Thallic and
Blastic.
Thallic Conidia
This type characterized by:
1. Originate from septation and fragmentation of a hypha.
2. May develop in an intercalary (central) position of the hypha or

develop at the tip of a hypha.
3. In both cases, all layers of the hyphal wall are involved in spore
formation.
Blastic Conidia characterized by:
1.Develop by a budding or swelling process.
2.They may develop as single spores or in succession to form a chain of

spores containing the following forms.
a) Blastospores: characterized by:
1.Blastospores formed by budding of a hypha or yeast cell.
2.Both wall layers are involved. The spore may remain attached and bud
further blastospores- giving rise to a branched chain of spores.
Figure: Blastospores formation.
b) Porospores: characterized by
1. The developing spore emerges through a distinct ‘pore’ in the hyphal

wall .
2. The inner layer of the hyphal wall is only involved in spore

development.
3. The new spore then develops its own new inner wall layer.
4. The outer spore wall is often thickened and pigmented.
5. A scar is usually obvious at the point of detachment from the hypha

(conidiophore).
Figure: Porospores formation.

Lec1 Fungal Taxonomy Dr. Hamzia Ali

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lec1 Fungal Taxonomy Dr. Hamzia Ali

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lec1 Fungal Taxonomy Dr. Hamzia Ali

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lec1 Fungal taxonomy Dr.

Mycology - the study of fungi

General characteristics of true fungi

1. All are eukaryotic: Possess membrane-bound nuclei (containing

2. Most of fungi are filamentous: Composed of individual microscopic

3. Some of fungi are unicellular: Some fungi consist of one cell

4. Protoplasm of hyphae or a rigid wall surrounds cell of fungi: Consists

5. Many of fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually: Production of

8. Nutrition categories of fungi are chemoheterotrophic (chemo

9. Storage compounds: Food storage is generally in the form of lipids

10. May be free-living or may form intimate relationships with other

Fungi exist in two fundamental forms; the filamentous (hyphal) and

1. Moulds (Molds): Filamentous type of growth Ex: Aspergillus sp.,

2. Yeasts: Single celled cells that buds Ex: Saccharomyces cerviciae

3. Yeast like: Similar to yeasts but produce pseudohyphae (chains of

4. Dimorphic: Fungi existing in two different morphological forms at two

Their basic cellular units described as hyphae (singular: hypha). Hyphae

Mycelium are of three kinds:

Yeasts are unicellular spherical to ellipsoid cells. They reproduce by

Fungi produce two major types of asexual spore: Sporangiospores and

1.Endogenous - formed and contained within a sporangium .

2.They formed because of the cleavage of protoplasm around nuclei.

3.Formation of a wall around each nucleate portion of protoplasm follows

4.A characteristic of fungi belongs to the zygomycetes ,chytridiomycota,

Figure: Asexual reproduction of fungi,

Conidia are Exogenous - often formed at the tip of supporting hyphae

This type characterized by:

1. Originate from septation and fragmentation of a hypha.

2. May develop in an intercalary (central) position of the hypha or

1.Develop by a budding or swelling process.

2.They may develop as single spores or in succession to form a chain of

a) Blastospores: characterized by:

1.Blastospores formed by budding of a hypha or yeast cell.

Figure: Blastospores formation.

1. The developing spore emerges through a distinct ‘pore’ in the hyphal

2. The inner layer of the hyphal wall is only involved in spore

4. The outer spore wall is often thickened and pigmented.

5. A scar is usually obvious at the point of detachment from the hypha

Figure: Porospores formation.

You might also like