Today:

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Today

• A Bit More Fungi
• Lab 2
• Lab 9 Set-Up

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Evolution of the Fungi
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Zygomycete Life Cycle
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Ascomycetes
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The Basidiomycota- Club Fungi

• 30,000 fungi including mushrooms, shelf fungi,
  puffballs, and rusts smuts
• Important decomposers (lignin!), also form
  mycorrhiza

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• Most vascular plants are associated with
  mycorrhizae.
• Photo ectomycorrhizal fungi (Hebeloma and
  Lactarius species) around the bases of birch
  trees helios.bto.ed.ac.uk

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Ectomycorrhizae
Ectomycorrhizae occur in almost all tree species
in temperate and boreal forests. Short growing
seasons in these areas limit decomposition and
create nitrogen stress. The fungi release
peptidases (exoenzymes) that break down proteins,
releasing N-containing compounds.
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Endomycorrhizae
Endomycorrhizae are found in 80 of all plants,
especially in warm/tropical grasslands and
forests. They help supply phosphorus to the
plants.
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Ecological Adaptations in the Fungi

• Lichens-
• Symbiotic association of millions of algae or
  cyanobacteria within a mesh of fungal hyphae
  (most commonly ascomycetes)