Fungus Infections Rise

News: Recently, there has been an increase in Fungal infection in India.

About Fungi

• Fungi are eukaryotic organisms belonging to the Kingdom Fungi.
• They include a diverse range of forms such as yeasts, molds, truffles, and mushrooms.
• Most fungi are microscopic, made up of thread-like filaments called hyphae (<10 µm diameter).
• Hyphae collectively form a mycelium, which absorbs nutrients from the environment instead of performing photosynthesis.
• Fungi obtain nutrients from soil, water, decaying matter, or living hosts (as parasites).
• Their cell wall is made of chitin, unlike plant (cellulose) or bacterial (peptidoglycan) cell walls.
• Major Types of Fungi (Based on Sexual Reproduction)
  • Chytridiomycota (Chytrids): It is oldest group of fungi. They are mostly unicellular and aquatic, with a single flagellum for movement. They are often parasitic on insects, plants, or amphibians.
  • Zygomycota (Conjugated Fungi): They commonly appear as molds on decaying materials. Some species act as parasites of insects.
  • Ascomycota (Sac Fungi): It is the largest group of fungi. It includes yeasts, truffles, and morels (some are edible). Many produce toxic secondary metabolites or act as plant parasites.
  • Basidiomycota (Club Fungi): It includes mushroom-forming fungi. It is characterized by club-shaped reproductive cells (basidia) that produce spores. Mushrooms are the spore-bearing fruiting bodies consisting of a cap, stem, and gills (though some lack these parts).
• Reproduction in Fungi
  • Asexual Reproduction: It occurs through fragmentation of mycelium or spore formation. It produces clonal populations, allowing rapid spread in favorable conditions.
  • Sexual Reproduction: It involves meiosis, leading to genetic recombination and diversity. It can occur between different mating types (heterothallic) or within the same mycelium (homothallic).