Fungi | Useful Role of Fungi | Harmful Role of Fungi
Fungi are eukaryotic and have a true nucleus enclosed within the nuclear envelope.
| Characteristics | Mould | Yeast |
|---|---|---|
| Occurrence | Commonly found on paper, wood, cloth, animal dung etc. | Grow profusely in sugar-rich organic substances such as palm juice, sugarcane juice etc. |
| Size | Ranges from 2-10 µm to about a few cm. | Vary in size from 5 to 10 µm. |
| Shape | Match stick-shaped. | Usually oval or spherical in shape. |
| Nutrition | The hyphae derive their nourishment from the bread piece by the secretion of various enzymes which digest the complex materials into simple molecules through the process of extracellular digestion. | Has a saprophytic mode of nutrition and is dependent on various sugars such as sucrose, fructose, glucose etc. |
| Respiration | Aerobic respiration: Presence of oxygen Anaerobic respiration: Absence of oxygen | Aerobic respiration: Presence of oxygen Anaerobic respiration: Absence of oxygen |
| Reproduction | Asexual reproduction: By means of sporangiophores. Sexual reproduction: By means of conjugation. | Asexual reproduction: By means of budding. Sexual reproduction: By means of conjugation. |
| Examples | Mucor, Rhizopus | Saccharomyces cerevisiae |
Useful Role of Fungi
- Preparation of fermented foods and bakery products: Yeast is useful in the preparation of fermented foods such as idli, dosa and bakery products such as breads and cakes.
- Preparation of alcoholic beverages: Alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine are prepared using yeast.
- Preparation of organic acids: Fungi are used in the production of organic acids such as citric acid and gluconic acid.
- Production of enzymes: Some fungi are commercially very important because they produce several useful enzymes such as proteases, amylases and cellulases.
- Production of antibiotics:
- The first antibiotic was produced using fungus Penicillium notatum as discovered by Alexander Fleming.
- Other fungal antibiotics include cephalosporin, fumagillin etc. which are used to cure wounds,
infections of the throat, brain, eyes etc.
- Decomposition and recycling: Some fungi grow on dead and decaying materials of plants and animals and help in the decomposition and recycling of nutrients to the soil, which in turn are used by plants and animals.
- Production of alcohol:
- On a commercial basis, yeast is grown on natural sugars present in grains such as barley, wheat, rice, molasses, corn starch, toddy and crushed fruit juices to produce alcohol.
- Several industries use alcohol as a solvent and in the manufacture of some drugs.
- The alcohol can be converted into vinegar with the help of acetic acid bacteria.
- Cheese making: Cheese is a milk product and is considered as a valuable food.
- Steps in Cheese Production
- Curdling of milk
- Processing of curd
- Salting of curd
- Ripening or curing of cheese
- Packing and distribution of cheese
- Mushroom cultivation:
- Mushroom cultivation can be carried out indoors, in a small space. Mushrooms are able to grow on any particular substrate or simply compost of a variety of agricultural wastes.
- They are very rich in vitamins and minerals, which are retained even after cooking, canning and dehydration. They also have sufficient amounts of niacin, pantothenic acid and biotin.
Also, Read Bacteria ~ Useful & Harmful Bacteria
Harmful Role of Fungi
- Destruction of goods: Fungi are responsible for the destruction of textiles, wooden articles and leather goods.
- Spoilage of food: Fungi such as Penicillium and Aspergillus cause spoilage of food materials such as fruits, vegetables, meat, bread, dairy products etc.
Plant Diseases Caused by Fungi
| Disease | Plant Affected | Fungal Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Rust | Wheat | Wheat rust |
| Smut | Barley, wheat, oats, sugarcane, forage grasses | Smut |
| Ergot | Corn, rye, wheat, bajra, barley | Claviceps purpurea |
Animal Diseases
| Disease | Fungal Agent |
|---|---|
| Lung necrosis | Aspergillus spp. |
Human Diseases
| Disease | Fungal Agent | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Athlete’s foot | Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum | Itchy, peeling skin on the fee |
| Ringworm | Trichophyton and Microsporum | Scalp, nails and feet get affected |
| Candidiasis | Candida albicans | Superficial infections of skin and mucosal membranes |
Also, Read Hygiene ~ A Key to Healthy Life
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