The nature of mushrooms has always raised many questions. In this article we will try to deal with this and learn about the structural features of fungal cells.
What are mushrooms: plants or animals?
In the first half of the 20th century, mushrooms were classified as plants. Detailed studies have proved that they do not have the main feature of plants, namely the ability to photosynthesis, but they have a lot in common with animals. But this statement was refuted. In 1969, scientists came to the conclusion that the structure of fungal cells has its own unique features, which means they should be attributed to a separate kingdom of wildlife.
By tradition, the science of mycology is a branch of botany. Like most organisms, fungi belong to the supremacy of eukaryotes, or nuclear. Their peculiarity lies in the synthesis of qualities that are inherent in other living beings. Like plants, they do not have arms, legs, eyes, independent movement for them is also difficult. At the same time, fungi lack the ability to produce organic matter. Like animals, they consume them ready-made.
This is one of the most diverse biological groups. It is difficult even for specialists to calculate the total number of species that enter this kingdom. The numbers range from 300 thousand to several million. Mushrooms are part of all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
The structure of fungal cells
The average cell size of the fungus in diameter is from 10 to 100 microns. Outside, it is surrounded by a strong shell, or cell wall. It consists of polysaccharides, lipids, phosphates, simple sugars, proteins, chitin and other substances. Inside the wall is covered with a plasma membrane, which is responsible for metabolism and maintaining pressure.
The membrane is filled with a liquid - the cytoplasm in which all the organelles are located. In the form of small particles in the cytoplasm is glycogen with a supply of nutrients. The core of the cell is the nucleus; it contains genetic information. There may be several, depending on the type of mushroom. Sometimes there is a nucleolus in the nucleus.
The structure of fungal cells is also characterized by the presence of vacuoles, centrioles, mitochondria, lobasomes. They contain the Golgi apparatus together with its various derivatives, for example phagosomes and lysosomes. The main objective of all its components is the chemical rearrangement of secretion products. The endoplasmic reticulum is represented in the mushroom cell by an extensive network of tubules and tubules, performing many functions. Among them are the accumulation of carbohydrates, the neutralization of poisons, the synthesis of hormones.
The structure of the fungal cell structure is presented to your attention above.
Distinctive features in the structure
Together with plants and animals, fungi belong to eukaryotes due to the presence of nuclei in their cells. In this regard, the cellular structure of these organisms has similarities. The most differing composition is possessed by animals and plants, while the structure of fungal cells is something in between.
They, like plants, have a solid cell membrane. Only it does not consist of cellulose, but of chitin, which is present in some animals (crayfish, insects, etc.). Fungi do not have chloroplasts and cannot carry out photosynthesis. Like plants, fungal cells contain vacuoles, and glycogen instead of starch.
The main common feature of fungi and some animals is the presence of chitin, as well as the accumulation of glycogen polysaccharide as a nutrient. Representatives of both kingdoms have heterotrophic nutrition. Animal cells, unlike fungi, do not have vacuoles and a dense cell wall, except for a protective membrane.
Mold mushrooms
Among the huge variety of mushrooms there are molds, scientifically - oomycetes. No different from other types of mold cells . The structure of these organisms has external differences. They do not have a pronounced fruiting body (reproductive organ), like hat mushrooms. All that can be seen with the naked eye is a highly branched mycelium, which is usually hidden under the fungus mushroom underground. The fruiting body in mold is weakly expressed.
The main distinguishing feature is the microscopic size. These organisms are widely distributed around the world. Mold found even in the ice of Antarctica. These fungi breed by spores and are especially fond of moisture. They are characterized by high survival and adaptability to various environmental factors. Mold does not even kill radiation. There are species that can cause great harm to humans and animals (aspergillosis, etc.), and some are used as antibiotics (penicillin, cyclosporine).
Yeast
One type of mushroom is yeast. Unlike hat and mold fungi, they usually do not form mycelium. Propagation of this species occurs not by spores, as in their “relatives”, but by a vegetative method using division or budding. Some species nevertheless form a mycelium, which can decay into single cells.
Yeast has the ability to decompose sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol. This process is called fermentation. During its implementation, the necessary energy is released for the life of the fungus. Fermentation helps to raise the dough, making it porous, so it is often used in cooking.
Yeast is demanding of environmental conditions. For them, the presence of sugar in the substrate is important. They are distributed on the surface of fruits and leaves, in natural reservoirs and soils. Certain species inhabit the intestines of insects that feed on wood.