Abstract
Although the study of fungi has increased exponentially in the past 100 years, fungi have been historically underappreciated or neglected in most other biological disciplines. Fungi affect humans in many ways in biotechnology and everyday life. Fungi are important members of ecosystems, acting as saprobes, parasites (plant and animal), mutualists (mycorrhizae, endophytes, lichens), and commensals. Because their filamentous hyphae and yeasts produce exoenzymes, food digestion takes place externally, followed by ingestion of small molecules. Mycologists study systematics, physiology, ecology, pathology, evolution, genetics, and molecular biology. Learning more about fungal biodiversity is key to appreciating their roles in nature and biotechnology.
Keywords
AscomycotaBasidiomycotaChytridiomycotaDeuteromycetesGlomeromycotaMoldsMushroomsMycologySymbiosisZygomycota