All plants but fungi have chloroplasts, and they produce their food. How then do they feed? Fungi share a lot of similarities with plants. They are eukaryotes with membrane-bound nuclei and do not show any locomotion. Moreover, they look like plants if you are considering mushrooms.
That’s on the one hand. On the other hand, photosynthesis is a vital process for life and fungi play a huge role in the ecosystem. If they do not have chloroplasts or carry out photosynthesis, how are they biologically relevant? This is worth looking into.
Continue reading to learn about the peculiarities of fungi.
Do fungi have chloroplasts?
No, fungi do not have chloroplasts. They are single-celled or multicellular heterotrophs. The main body of the fungi (the mycelium) is a network of fine threads called hyphae. They do not have chloroplasts, so they cannot trap sunlight energy and convert it to energy.
Can fungi carry out photosynthesis?
Fungi do not have chloroplasts, nor do they have chlorophyll. Therefore, they cannot carry out photosynthesis. Although they have pigments, they are not photosynthetic. Instead, they depend on plants and other substrates for their food.
How do fungi feed?
Fungi use the heterotrophic mode of feeding. They cannot manufacture their food using energy from sunlight (like autotrophs). They depend on the food produced by other organisms for their survival.
Fungi have adaptive features that help them to absorb nutrients from their environment. They form associations with a substrate to establish any of these three modes of feeding:
Saprophytic
Fungi are saprophytes because they are decomposers. They absorb soluble organic compounds from dead and decaying organic matter. They do this by first attaching themselves to the substrate.
Afterward, they secrete digestive juices on the organic matter, convert it into a solution, and absorb nutrients from it. Examples of saprophytic fungi are shitake (Lentinula edodes) and oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus).
Parasitic
Some other types of fungi feed through parasitic association with a host. They attach themselves to the host and obtain nutrients to the detriment of the host. They are disease-causing fungi that can also result in death, in severe cases.
Parasitic fungi are usually found in plants, trees, and some animals. Examples of these fungi are Oomycetes, Zygomycetes, Chytrids, and Cordyceps species.
Mutualism
Lichens are a good example of mutualistic association. The fungus (the mycobiont) and alga (the photobiont) form an association (like an independent organism) in which both parties reap benefits.
The fungus creates a safe habitat for the alga, which is responsible for providing the association with food and energy.
Are fungi plants?
Fungi are not plants for a lot of biological reasons. They lack chlorophyll, an essential organelle in plants required for photosynthesis. This cannot be compared with other plants that lack chlorophyll because theirs is a result of evolution – they lost their chlorophyll in the process.
Because of their inability to carry out photosynthesis, they are heterotrophs. Molecular research shows that fungi have a closer relationship with animals than plants.
Their feeding, nutrition, and ecological roles tilt more towards the animal kingdom than the plant kingdom. Like animals, fungi store food as glycogen instead of starch as seen in plants.
Also, their cell walls are made of chitin, glucans, and proteins. On the other hand, plant cells are made of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and agar. For reproduction, fungi produce fruiting bodies like spores, while plants produce seeds.
Ecological importance of fungi
Fungi may not be photosynthetic organisms but that does not make them burdens to the ecosystem. They are an important part of ecosystems worldwide. Some of their noteworthy roles are:
Decomposers
Fungi are important decomposers in ecosystems. They absorb nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter, including fallen leaves, wood, and dead animals.
This process converts complex organic compounds into simpler compounds that can be absorbed by plants and other organisms. The decomposition process is essential for nutrient cycling and maintaining the health of ecosystems.
Nutrient cycling
Nutrient cycling is a product of decomposition. As fungi break down complex organic compounds, they release carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus back into the soil for the growth and development of plants. This creates a continuous cycle of nutrient flow in the ecosystem.
Mycorrhizal association
Fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants through mycorrhizae. Fungi enjoy food supply from the plant and enhance the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. The mycorrhizal fungi also help to increase the host plant’s resilience to disease and environmental stress.
Plant pathogens
As plant pathogens or parasites, fungi are not 100% bad news. They can be used to specifically regulate the population of certain plants, influence the composition of plant communities, and impact ecosystem dynamics.
Food production
Some fungi find application in the food and beverage industries. Examples of these fungi are yeast and edible mushrooms. Yeast is used in bread bakeries and breweries.
Various cuisines adopt mushrooms to their recipes because of their rich flavor. Other types of fungi serve as food for various wildlife species.
Soil structure
The hyphal network of fungi works like a glue that holds soil particles together. It also provides stability for soil aggregates, improves soil structure, and prevents erosion.
Detoxification and bioremediation
Some fungi can break down pollutants like oils and heavy metals. They absorb them and remove them from the environment, creating cleaner environments. This is good for bioremediation efforts to ensure a more habitable environment.
Biodiversity
Exploring the diversity of fungi life directly influences the biodiversity of different ecosystems. Their presence and relationship with other organisms help to uncover their peculiarities and that of the organisms they relate with.
FAQs
Are fungi aerobic or anaerobic?
Fungi are naturally aerobic, but there are some anaerobic species like anaeromyces, caecomyces, Neocallimastix, and piromyces. You find filamentous fungi growing in environments that do not have oxygen.
Are fungi like bacteria?
Fungi are more complex than bacteria; they are nothing like bacteria except that they can also be classified as germs. They are eukaryotic multicellular organisms with specialized organelles, while bacteria are prokaryotes without a definite nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
In addition, fungi are immobile organisms that can be seen by the naked eye, but bacteria are mobile microscopic organisms.
What pigments are present in fungi?
Fungal pigments are melanin, carotenoids, azaphilones, flavins, quinones, and polyketides.
Conclusion
Fungi do not have chloroplasts or chlorophyll, and they do not photosynthesize. They may look like plants and share other similarities, but they are not plants. Their nutrition and feeding using specialized strategies.
However, the inability of fungi to photosynthesize is not a loss to nature. It is a huge plus in explaining biodiversity and the complexity of life on Earth. They obtain support and energy from the environment through their heterotrophic methods, enabling them to thrive.
Microorganisms also take their biology into human recreation. Doubt it? Find out why there is algae in your pool.
Thanks for reading.