Fungi are the member of eukaryotic organisms. They can be found everywhere and are omnipresent. In a recent study, fungi were declared to be closely related to animals rather than plants and for this reason they have been put in a separate group, i.e. different from plants, animals and microbes. Mycology is the branch of biology which deals the study of fungi.
Fungi do not have photosynthetic pigment, also known as chlorophyll, and therefore, they cannot prepare food and depend on others for it. They are a great help in decaying dead organism and clean the surroundings. Thus, making the place suitable for living.
Many modes of reproduction of fungi are responsible for their large numbers. Reproduction through spores involves scattering of spores from one place to another through winds, water etc. These spores give birth to new fungi.
Scientifically, more than 100,000 kinds of fungi have been found. Mushroom is one of the examples of fungi which is consumable. Mold, yeast, rust are other examples. Fungi reproduce by both sexually and asexually.
Asexual reproduction in fungi is more common than sexual reproduction. Almost every variety of fungi can reproduce by asexual means. Spore formation, fragmentation, budding and fission are the types of asexual reproduction. Vegetative spores or conodia are widely known.
Sexual reproduction in fungi is not very easy. This is achieved when the male gamete fuses with the female gamete. In the initial phase of reproduction, haploid hyphae come together. The fusion of male and female cells leads to the formation of fertile diploid cells, which are known as spores. These spores come out, get scattered and grow into new fungi.
No comments:
Post a Comment