Introduction to Fungus | Microorganisms | Biology | Don't Memorise

Summary

This script explores the fascinating world of fungi, which can appear as cottony growths on stale food due to their rapid reproduction in moist conditions. It delves into the microscopic and macroscopic forms of fungi, highlighting their cellular structure, including hyphae and mycelium, and the importance of spores for reproduction. The video also touches on the role of fungi in symbiotic relationships with plants, their contribution to food and medicine, and the significance of studying fungi through the science of Mycology.

Takeaways

• 🍞 The cottony growth on stale bread is caused by fungi, which are a group of living organisms.
• 🔬 Fungi encompass both microscopic and macroscopic organisms, with the former only visible under a microscope and the latter, like mushrooms, visible to the naked eye.
• 🌟 Microscopic fungi can be either unicellular, like yeast, or multicellular with a complex structure.
• 🌿 Multicellular fungi have a body made up of hyphae, which are long, slender filaments that form a network known as mycelium.
• 🌂 The cap of the fungi, such as in mushrooms, contains spores that can disperse and give rise to new fungal bodies upon germination.
• 🧬 Hyphae can be either septate, with partitions called septa, or aseptate, without partitions, and they play a crucial role in nutrient absorption and transportation.
• 🍄 The mycelium, composed of hyphae, is the main body of fungi, whether microscopic or macroscopic, such as in mushrooms.
• 🌱 Hyphae release enzymes to digest food outside their bodies, absorbing nutrients directly after breakdown.
• 💊 Fungi have significant roles in nature and human life, including symbiotic relationships with plants and the production of medicinal products like Penicillin.
• 🥖 Fungi also contribute to the production of various foods, including bread, bakery items, and cheese.
• 📚 The study of fungi is called Mycology, a branch of microbiology dedicated to understanding these diverse and important organisms.

Q & A

What causes the cottony growth on stale bread?

The cottony growth on stale bread is caused by fungi, which are a set of live cells that thrive in moist conditions.

What is the general term used to describe the organisms responsible for the cottony growth?

The general term used to describe these organisms is 'fungi', which covers many different types of organisms, both microscopic and macroscopic.

What differentiates microscopic fungi from macroscopic fungi?

Microscopic fungi can only be observed under a microscope, while macroscopic fungi are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, such as mushrooms and puffballs.

Are all microscopic fungi unicellular?

No, not all microscopic fungi are unicellular. Some, like yeast, are unicellular, but others are multicellular and consist of many cells working together.

What is the term for the long, slender filaments that make up the body of a fungus?

The long, slender filaments that make up the body of a fungus are called hyphae.

How are the hyphae of a fungus organized?

Hyphae are interwoven to form a network known as mycelium, which constitutes the body of the fungus.

What is the function of the cap structure found in some fungi?

The cap structure in some fungi contains spores that can be dispersed to give rise to new fungal bodies upon germination.

What are septa and how do they relate to hyphae?

Septa are partitions within hyphae that divide them into separate compartments. Hyphae with septa are called septate hyphae, while those without are called aseptate or coenocytic hyphae.

How do fungi absorb nutrients from their surroundings?

Fungi absorb nutrients by releasing enzymes from the tips of their hyphae, which digest food outside the fungal body. The nutrients are then absorbed directly by the hyphae.

Why is the study of fungi important?

The study of fungi, known as mycology, is important because fungi play several crucial roles, such as forming symbiotic relationships with plants, producing medically important products like Penicillin, and contributing to the production of foods like bread and cheese.

What is the relationship between the microscopic structure of fungi and the macroscopic structures like mushrooms?

Both microscopic and macroscopic fungi share a similar internal structure, with the body being made up of mycelium, which is composed of interwoven hyphae.

Outlines

00:00

🍞 The Wonders of Fungal Growth

This paragraph delves into the fascinating world of fungi, explaining the cottony growth often observed on stale bread as a result of fungal activity. It clarifies that this growth is composed of living cells, which can be either microscopic or macroscopic in nature. Microscopic fungi are too small to be seen without a microscope, while macroscopic ones, such as mushrooms and puffballs, are large enough to be observed with the naked eye. The paragraph further explores the structure of fungi, highlighting the role of hyphae in forming the mycelium, the body of the fungus. It explains the difference between septate and aseptate hyphae and their importance in nutrient absorption and genetic material housing. The summary emphasizes the multi-cellular nature of fungi and their significance in the ecosystem, including their role in decomposition and as a source of food and medicine.

05:02

🍄 Exploring the Macroscopic Fungi and Their Importance

The second paragraph continues the discussion on fungi, focusing on macroscopic structures like mushrooms and their internal composition. It reveals that, despite their size, mushrooms also consist of mycelium made up of interwoven hyphae, similar to microscopic fungi. The paragraph underscores the importance of studying fungi, highlighting their role in symbiotic relationships with plants, such as in mycorrhizae, and their contribution to the production of medically important substances like Penicillin. Additionally, it mentions the culinary uses of fungi in foods like bread and cheese. The paragraph concludes by introducing Mycology, the scientific study of fungi, emphasizing its significance in understanding these organisms and their impact on various aspects of life.

Keywords

💡Cottony growth

Cottony growth refers to the soft, fluffy appearance of fungal colonies that can develop on food items, such as stale bread, especially when exposed to moisture. In the context of the video, it is used to illustrate the presence of fungi, which are the main focus of the script. The term helps to visually describe the fungal colonies that are central to understanding fungal life and their impact on food spoilage.

💡Fungi

Fungi is a broad term encompassing a diverse group of organisms, both microscopic and macroscopic, that can be found in various environments. In the video, fungi are presented as the cause of the cottony growth on bread and are explored in terms of their structure and function. The script delves into the different types of fungi, their cellular organization, and their importance in ecosystems and human life.

💡Microscopic

Microscopic refers to organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and can only be observed with the aid of a microscope. In the video, this term is used to describe certain types of fungi that are not visible to the naked eye, such as yeast, which is a unicellular fungus. The concept is important for understanding the diversity within the fungal kingdom and the tools required to study these organisms.

💡Macroscopic

Macroscopic organisms are large enough to be seen with the naked eye without the need for magnification. The video uses this term to describe larger fungi, such as mushrooms and puffballs, which are visible and often recognizable to people. This distinction helps to highlight the range of sizes and forms that fungi can take.

💡Hyphae

Hyphae are the thread-like structures that make up the body of a fungus. They are the basic cellular units of the mycelium, which is the vegetative part of fungi. In the script, hyphae are explained as the filamentous cells that interweave to form the mycelium, and they play a crucial role in nutrient absorption and the overall structure of the fungal body.

💡Mycelium

Mycelium is the collective network of hyphae that constitutes the main body of a fungus. It is the part of the fungus that grows in the substrate, absorbing nutrients. The video explains that the mycelium is made up of interwoven hyphae and is central to the structure of both microscopic and macroscopic fungi.

💡Septa

Septa, or septum in the singular form, are the partitions within hyphae that divide the cellular compartments. The video script mentions that some fungi have septate hyphae, which have these partitions, allowing for the compartmentalization of the fungal filaments. This is contrasted with aseptate hyphae, which lack such partitions.

💡Aseptate hyphae

Aseptate hyphae are hyphae without partitions, also known as coenocytic hyphae. The video describes these as hyphae that allow for the direct passage of nutrients and substances throughout the fungal body, as opposed to septate hyphae, which have septa with pores for substance exchange.

💡Spores

Spores are the reproductive units of fungi, capable of developing into new fungal bodies upon germination. In the video, spores are mentioned as being contained within the structures of the fungi, such as the caps of mushrooms, and are essential for the dispersal and propagation of fungi.

💡Symbiotic relation

A symbiotic relation refers to a mutually beneficial interaction between two different organisms. The video script highlights the role of fungi in forming symbiotic relationships with plant roots, where both the plants and fungi benefit from the association, such as in the case of mycorrhizal associations.

💡Mycology

Mycology is the branch of biology dedicated to the study of fungi. The term is derived from 'mycos,' meaning fungi, and 'logos,' meaning study. The video script introduces mycology as the scientific discipline that focuses on understanding the diverse world of fungi, their structures, functions, and roles in various ecosystems.

Highlights

Cottony growth on stale bread is caused by live fungal cells.

Fungi are a diverse group of organisms, both microscopic and macroscopic.

Microscopic fungi can only be observed under a microscope, while macroscopic ones are visible to the naked eye.

Examples of macroscopic fungi include mushrooms and puffballs.

Not all microscopic fungi are unicellular; some are multicellular with complex structures.

Multicellular fungi have a body made up of many cells, including a stalk and a cap that contain spores.

The stalk of fungi is composed of long, slender filaments called hyphae.

Hyphae form a network known as mycelium, which makes up the fungal body.

Hyphae can be either septate, with partitions, or aseptate, without partitions.

Hyphae are essential for nutrient absorption and contain the genetic material of fungi.

Macroscopic fungi, like mushrooms, also have a mycelial structure made of hyphae.

Fungi play crucial roles in ecosystems, including symbiotic relationships with plant roots.

Fungi are a source of medicinal products, such as the antibiotic Penicillin.

Various foods, including bakery items and cheese, are produced with the help of fungi.

Mycology is the scientific study of fungi, highlighting their importance in biology.

Protozoa, another type of micro-organism, will be discussed in the next video.

Transcripts

We all have noticed the cottony growth

on a stale piece of left over bread.

It happens with many food items

when they are left open especially in moisture.

But have you ever wondered why?

What exactly gets this cotton like substance here?

What is it made up of?

Well, the cottony growth is nothing but a set of live cells!

Yes!

These are living cells and this fact is more than enough

for us to study them.

By now you must have guessed the name of these organisms.

Yes! I am referring to the fungi !

Fungus is usually a broad term used to cover

many organisms together.

The group consists of microscopic

as well as macroscopic organisms.

What do we mean by this?

Microscopic means those which can only be observed

under the microscope.

So the cottony growth that you find on stale bread

can be included in this category.

On the other hand, macro means huge!

So those which are big enough to be observed with naked eyes

are macroscopic organisms.

Which organisms can we consider as an example of this type?

Well mushrooms and puffballs can be included in this category.

Let’s talk about the microscopic types first.

These being too small what do you think will be their structure?

Do you think they will always be unicellular ?

Well, not all !

Only a few types like yest are unicellular.

Whereas others in spite of being microscopic

are multi-cellular nature.

The unicellular forms exist as one single cell

which performs all the activities efficiently!

On the other hand the multi-cellular one’s

have bodies comprising of many cells

that co-ordinate to bring about smooth processes.

The multi cellular body usually consists of this

stalk like structure and a cap on top of it.

This cap comes in various forms.

Some of them may have a bag like structure.

Others may have an ‘umbrella shaped structure’.

Both these are dedicated to a special role.

They contain spores of the fungi,

which can be dispersed to give rise to new fungal bodies on germination.

Now moving to the stalk…

This usually consists of long slender filaments .

These filaments are the cells that make up the entire fungal body.

They form a dense network together.

So are these filaments given any specific name?

Scientifically they are addressed as the HYPHAE or singular HYPHA!

These threads get interwoven to form a network!

This structure is what we call as the mycelium.

So can we say that the mycelium is a collection of Hyphae ?

Yes! And can we also say that the fungal body

is made up of mycelium?

Absolutely!

Thus, this stalk that we can see here

and also these root like structures

are all mycelium made up of hyphae.

Now one more important question that pops up here!

Are these hyphae made up of one continuous tube?

Or they are made up of smaller sections?

Let’s zoom in further to know this.

Some fungi have hyphae that have partitions.

These partitions as we can see here are called as the Septa,

or singular Septum!

So such types of hyphae are called as septate hyphae .

Now can you guess the next type?

They will be without the Septum!

In many fungi, you find no partitions in the hyphae.

These are called as aseptate hyphae.

Another name for such type is coenocytic hyphae .

Now you may wonder as to why the structure of these hyphae

is so important to us?

What could be their possible function?

Well, apart from forming the entire body of the fungi,

these help in many ways.

Hyphae are ideal for absorbing nutrients

from the surrounding food source.

Precisely, the tip of these hyphae release enzymes

that bring about digestion of food outside the body.

After breakdown, these nutrients are absorbed directly by the hyphae

and are passed to various parts of the fungal body.

If the hyphae are aseptate,

then the nutrients can be directly passed.

However in Septate hyphae, the case is different.

The septa have small pores

which allow passage or even exchange of substances.

The hyphae are also known to contain cytoplasm

and a few important organelles.

And most important is the presence of nuclei inside them.

Thus, the genetic material of the fungus is locked in these hyphae.

For all these reasons the hyphae are important to us

while studying the fungi.

Well this was the multi-cellular structure of fungi.

But this is what we observe under the microscope right?

So will the huge macroscopic structures

that we see in case of mushrooms

have a similar internal structure or something different?

Think for a moment!

Well, astonishingly these also have a similar internal structure.

So the body of the mushroom will also be made up of Mycelium.

Similar to the microscopic ones,

even this Mycelium will be made up of inter-woven hyphae.

So we may find slight modifications in these different types of fungi,

but the basic structure remains the same!

Well you may wonder as to why we need to study about these fungi.

What is their importance?

Let me explain.

There are several important roles that fungi play in ours

as well as other organisms’ lives.

Some of them include, forming a symbiotic relation with plant roots .

Symbiotic means a mutual give and take relation.

So both organisms: the plants as well as the fungi

are benefited in some or the other way.

Secondly, helping us with many medicinally important products.

Do you know any such product obtained from fungi?

Of course you do!

You are familiar with the antibiotic Penicillin.

This is obtained from the fungi of genus penicillium.

Similarly, many of the foods that we relish

including bakery items and cheese

are all a gift of various fungi to us.

So don’t you think studying them is important for us?

That is the reason why we have a complete branch of microbiological

studies dedicated for studying fungi exclusively!

This is called Mycology ,

where mycos is fungi and logos is study!

Well this was about the fungi.

Do you remember the next type of micro-organism we’d mentioned?

Yes! It was PROTOZOA !

So let’s have a look at this type in the next video!