Mycorrhizae

Many organisms in nature survive by forming relationships with other organisms.  Underground, the root tips of most plants are covered with the hyphae from the fungus.  This plant-fungus relationship is called mycorrhizae.  Both the plant and the fungus benefit from this relationship because the fungus is able to receive sugar from the plant, and the plant is able to receive water and nutrients from the fungus. Listed are basic facts about fungi and a general comparison of two types of mycorrhizal fungi.
I.  Characteristics of Fungi
    1.  Eukaryotic heterotrophs- absorb food
    2.  Cell walls made of chitin
    3.  Some examples include yeast, mushrooms, mold, and truffles
    4.  The chart below shows the difference between plants and fungi
 
Characteristic
 Fungi
 Plants
Number of Cells
 Multicellular except unicellular yeast
 Multicellular
Obtain energy
 Heterotrophs
 Autotrophs
Cell Structures
 Cell wall made of Chitin
 Cell Wall made of Cellulose
Energy Storage
 Glycogen
 Starch
Reproduction
 Sexually (with spores) and asexually
 Sexually and asexually
    QUESTION:  WHY DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT MUSHROOMS ARE                                 PLANTS?  DO YOU OR DID YOU THINK THAT MUSHROOMS WERE                                             PLANTS?
    QUESTION:  ARE FUNGI MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO PLANTS OR ANIMALS?

II.  Cell Structure of Fungi
    Hyphae- branching, threadlike tubes that make up multicellular fungi

III.  Helpful and Harmful Fungi
    1.  Environmental Recycling- decomposers
    2.  Food- Yeast in bread, Mold in cheeses (blue streaks in blue cheese)
    3.  Disease Causing- Athlete's Foot, ringworms
    4.  Disease Fighting- penicillium for penicillin
  5.  Mycorrhizae- plant/fungus relationship

http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/jpitocch/genbios/surveybi04.html
Characteristics
 Ectomycorrhizae
 Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae
Most Common
 Least common
 Most common
Type of plants it lives with
 Evergreen Trees
 Some evergreens and plants that make herbs such as basil
Plant's Benefits
 Antibiotic from fungi provides protection and it receives water and nutrients
 Receives water and nutrients
Fungus' Benefits
 Sugar from plants
 Sugar from plants
Attachment to Plant
 Covers root tips
 Covers root tips and enters root cells

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