What Are the Characteristics of a Fungus?

Fungi are unique organisms that occupy their own kingdom apart from plants and animals. Most fungi act as decomposers. However, some fungi can cause disease while other fungi are edible. Common fungi include mushrooms, yeasts, molds, rusts and mildews.

Structural Characteristics

The basic structural of fungi is the hypha. The hypha is a collection of thread-like filaments. Fungi also have a rigid cell wall that is composed of chitin.

Reproductive Characteristics

Fungi engage in non-motile asexual and sexual reproduction. During reproduction, fungi produce microscopic spores that are carried from place to place by the wind and by insects.

Metabolic Characteristics

Fungi are heterotrophic organisms that digest food externally by absorbing small nutrient particles into their cells. While some fungi are parasites, most ingest material from organisms that are already dead.

Habitat

Fungi live almost everywhere on earth. They generally inhabit moist environments with moderate temperatures. Most prefer to actually live inside of their food source.

Relationships

Fungi are involved in two types of symbiotic relationships. In the mycorrhizae form, fungi derive energy from the roots of vascular plants. The other form involves the production of lichens with algae and cyanobacteria.

References

• Cliffs Notes: Characteristics of Fungi

Resources

• Forest Pathology: Fungi