Classification Of Fungi Alexopoulos And Mims 1979 Pdf 699
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Classification of Fungi by Alexopoulos and Mims (1979) PDF: A Comprehensive Guide for Mycologists
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that have fascinated scientists for centuries. They play important roles in various ecosystems, as decomposers, symbionts, parasites, and pathogens. They also have many applications in biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, and food production. However, fungi are not easy to classify, as they have complex and varied life cycles, morphologies, and phylogenies.
One of the most influential and widely used systems of fungal classification was proposed by C. J. Alexopoulos and C. W. Mims in their book "Classification of Fungi" published in 1979. This book was based on the previous work of E. A. Gaumann and B. O. Dodge, who classified fungi based on both the haploid and diploid phases of their life cycle, as well as the structure of their thallus and organs of fructification.
Alexopoulos and Mims placed fungi and slime molds under the kingdom Myceteae, under the superkingdom Eukaryonta. They divided the kingdom into three divisions: Gymnomycota, Mastigomycota, and Amastigomycota. Each division was further subdivided into subclasses, classes, form-classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
The main features of each division are summarized below:
Gymnomycota
This division includes the slime molds and the cellular slime molds. These organisms are not true fungi, but they resemble them in some aspects. They have a motile phase in their life cycle, where they form plasmodia or pseudoplasmodia that can move and feed on organic matter. They also produce spores that germinate into new individuals.
The Gymnomycota are divided into two subclasses: Acrasiogymnomycotina and Plasmodiogymnomycotina. The former includes the cellular slime molds (class Acrasiomycetes), which form pseudoplasmodia composed of individual cells that retain their identity. The latter includes the true slime molds (classes Protosteliomycetes and Myxomycetes), which form plasmodia composed of multinucleate masses of protoplasm that can change shape and size.
Mastigomycota
This division includes the lower fungi that have flagellated cells or spores in some stage of their life cycle. They are mostly aquatic or soil-inhabiting organisms that feed on organic matter or live as parasites or symbionts of plants or animals.
The Mastigomycota are divided into two subclasses: Haplomastigomycotina and Diplomastigomycotina. The former includes the chytrids (class Chytridiomycetes), the hyphochytrids (class Hyphochytridiomycetes), and the plasmodiophorids (class Plasmodiophoromycetes). These fungi have a simple thallus that consists of a single cell or a few cells with rhizoids or haustoria. They produce zoospores that have a single posterior flagellum.
The latter includes the oomycetes (class Oomycetes), which are also known as water molds or downy mildews. These fungi have a coenocytic thallus that consists of branched hyphae without septa. They produce zoospores that have two anterior flagella.
Amastigomycota
This division includes the higher fungi that lack flagellated cells or spores in their life cycle. They are mostly terrestrial or plant-associated organisms that have diverse modes of nutrition and reproduction.
The Amastigomycota are divided into three subclasses: Zygomycotina, Ascomycotina, and Basidiomycotina. The former includes the zygomycetes (class Zygomycetes) and the trichomycetes (class Trichomycetes). These fungi have a coenocytic thallus that consists of branched hyphae without septa. They produce zygospores after sexual fusion of gametangia.
The latter two include the ascomycetes (class Ascomycetes) and the basidiomycetes (class Basidiomycetes), which are also known as sac fungi and club fungi respectively. These fungi have a septate thallus that consists of branched hyphae with septa. They produce ascospores inside sac-like structures called asci (in ascomycetes) or basidiospores on club-like structures called basidia (in basidiomycetes).
The Deuteromycotina (form-class Deuteromycetes) is not a true subclass, but a group of fungi that do not have a known sexual stage in their life cycle. They are also known as fungi imperfecti or anamorphic fungi. They reproduce asexually by producing conidia or other types of spores.
Classification of Fungi by Alexopoulos and Mims (1979) PDF: A Comprehensive Guide for Mycologists
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that have fascinated scientists for centuries. They play important roles in various ecosystems, as decomposers, symbionts, parasites, and pathogens. They also have many applications in biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, and food production. However, fungi are not easy to classify, as they have complex and varied life cycles, morphologies, and phylogenies.
One of the most influential and widely used systems of fungal classification was proposed by C. J. Alexopoulos and C. W. Mims in their book "Classification of Fungi" published in 1979. This book was based on the previous work of E. A. Gaumann and B. O. Dodge, who classified fungi based on both the haploid and diploid phases of their life cycle, as well as the structure of their thallus and organs of fructification.
Alexopoulos and Mims placed fungi and slime molds under the kingdom Myceteae, under the superkingdom Eukaryonta. They divided the kingdom into three divisions: Gymnomycota, Mastigomycota, and Amastigomycota. Each division was further subdivided into subclasses, classes, form-classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
The main features of each division are summarized below:
Gymnomycota
This division includes the slime molds and the cellular slime molds. These organisms are not true fungi, but they resemble them in some aspects. They have a motile phase in their life cycle, where they form plasmodia or pseudoplasmodia that can move and feed on organic matter. They also produce spores that germinate into new individuals.
The Gymnomycota are divided into two subclasses: Acrasiogymnomycotina and Plasmodiogymnomycotina. The former includes the cellular slime molds (class Acrasiomycetes), which form pseudoplasmodia composed of individual cells that retain their identity. The latter includes the true slime molds (classes Protosteliomycetes and Myxomycetes), which form plasmodia composed of multinucleate masses of protoplasm that can change shape and size.
Mastigomycota
This division includes the lower fungi that have flagellated cells or spores in some stage of their life cycle. They are mostly aquatic or soil-inhabiting organisms that feed on organic matter or live as parasites or symbionts of plants or animals.
The Mastigomycota are divided into two subclasses: Haplomastigomycotina and Diplomastigomycotina. The former includes the chytrids (class Chytridiomycetes), the hyphochytrids (class Hyphochytridiomycetes), and the plasmodiophorids (class Plasmodiophoromycetes). These fungi have a simple thallus that consists of a single cell or a few cells with rhizoids or haustoria. They produce zoospores that have a single posterior flagellum.
The latter includes the oomycetes (class Oomycetes), which are also known as water molds or downy mildews. These fungi have a coenocytic thallus that consists of branched hyphae without septa. They produce zoospores that have two anterior flagella.
Amastigomycota
This division includes the higher fungi that lack flagellated cells or spores in their life cycle. They are mostly terrestrial or plant-associated organisms that have diverse modes of nutrition and reproduction.
The Amastigomycota are divided into three subclasses: Zygomycotina, Ascomycotina, and Basidiomycotina. The former includes the zygomycetes (class Zygomycetes) and the trichomycetes (class Trichomycetes). These fungi have a coenocytic thallus that consists of branched hyphae without septa. They produce zygospores after sexual fusion of gametangia.
The latter two include the ascomycetes (class Ascomycetes) and the basidiomycetes (class Basidiomycetes), which are also known as sac fungi and club fungi respectively. These fungi have a septate thallus that consists of branched hyphae with septa. They produce ascospores inside sac-like structures called asci (in ascomycetes) or basidiospores on club-like structures called basidia (in basidiomycetes).
The Deuteromycotina (form-class Deuteromycetes) is not a true subclass, but a group of fungi that do not have a known sexual stage in their life cycle. They are also known as fungi imperfecti or anamorphic fungi. They reproduce asexually by producing conidia or other types of spores.
In this article, we will explore the classification of fungi by Alexopoulos and Mims (1979) in more detail, highlighting the main characteristics, examples, and significance of each group.
Classification of Fungi by Alexopoulos and Mims (1979) PDF: A Comprehensive Guide for Mycologists
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that have fascinated scientists for centuries. They play important roles in various ecosystems, as decomposers, symbionts, parasites, and pathogens. They also have many applications in biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, and food production. However, fungi are not easy to classify, as they have complex and varied life cycles, morphologies, and phylogenies.
One of the most influential and widely used systems of fungal classification was proposed by C. J. Alexopoulos and C. W. Mims in their book "Classification of Fungi" published in 1979. This book was based on the previous work of E. A. Gaumann and B. O. Dodge, who classified fungi based on both the haploid and diploid phases of their life cycle, as well as the structure of their thallus and organs of fructification.
Alexopoulos and Mims placed fungi and slime molds under the kingdom Myceteae, under the superkingdom Eukaryonta. They divided the kingdom into three divisions: Gymnomycota, Mastigomycota, and Amastigomycota. Each division was further subdivided into subclasses, classes, form-classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
The main features of each division are summarized below:
Gymnomycota
The Gymnomycota are also known as slime molds or myxomolds. They are not true fungi because they lack chitin in their cell walls and do not have ergosterol in their membranes. However, they share some similarities with fungi such as having spore-producing structures called sporangia and having heterotrophic nutrition by absorbing organic matter from their environment. Some slime molds can also form mycelium-like structures called plasmodia or pseudoplasmodia.
The Gymnomycota can be divided into two subclasses based on their mode of plasmodium formation: Acrasiogymnomycotina and Plasmodiogymnomycotina. The Acrasiogymnomycotina include the cellular slime molds (class Acrasiomycetes), which form pseudoplasmodia composed of individual cells that retain their identity. These cells aggregate together when they sense certain chemical signals such as cAMP. The pseudoplasmodia then crawl towards a suitable substrate where they form fruiting bodies containing spores. An example of a cellular slime mold is Dictyostelium discoideum, which is used as a model organism for studying cell differentiation and communication.
The Plasmodiogymnomycotina include the true slime molds (classes Protosteliomycetes and Myxomycetes), which form plasmodia composed of multinucleate masses of protoplasm that can change shape and size. These plasmodia move by cytoplasmic streaming and feed on bacteria, yeasts, algae, decaying organic matter, etc. The plasmodia then undergo differentiation into sporangia containing spores. An example of a true slime mold is Physarum polycephalum, which can solve mazes and optimize routes between food sources.
Mastigomycota
The Mastigomycota are also known as lower fungi or flagellated fungi because they have flagellated cells or spores in some stage of their life cycle. They are mostly aquatic or soil-inhabiting organisms that feed on organic matter or live as parasites or symbionts of plants or animals.
The Mastigomycota can be divided into two subclasses based on the number and position of flagella on their zoospores: Haplomastigomycotina and Diplomastigomycotina. The Haplomastigomycotina include the chytrids (class Chytridiomycetes), the hyphochytrids (class Hyphochytridiomycetes), and the plasmodiophorids (class Plasmodiophoromycetes). These fungi have a simple thallus that consists of a single cell or a few cells with rhizoids or haustoria. They produce zoospores that have a single posterior flagellum.
The Diplomastigomycotina include the oomycetes (class Oomycetes), which are also known as water molds or downy mildews. These fungi have a coenocytic thallus that consists of branched hyphae without septa. They produce zoospores that have two anterior flagella.
Amastigomycota
The Amastigomycota are also known as higher fungi or non-flagellated fungi because they lack flagellated cells or spores in their life cycle. They are mostly terrestrial or plant-associated organisms that have diverse modes of nutrition and reproduction.
The Amastigomycota can be divided into three subclasses based on the type of spores produced after sexual reproduction: Zygomycotina, Ascomycotina, and Basidiomycotina. The Zygomycotina include the zygomycetes (class Zygomycetes) and the trichomycetes (class Trichomycetes). These fungi have a coenocytic thallus that consists of branched hyphae without septa. They produce zygospores after sexual fusion of gametangia.
The Ascomycotina include the ascomycetes (class Ascomycetes), which are also known as sac fungi because they produce ascospores inside sac-like structures called asci. These fungi have a septate thallus that consists of branched hyphae with septa. They produce ascocarps that contain asci arranged in various ways.
The Basidiomycotina include the basidiomycetes (class Basidiomycetes), which are also known as club fungi because they produce basidiospores on club-like structures called basidia. These fungi have a septate thallus that consists of branched hyphae with septa. They produce basidiocarps that contain basidia arranged in various ways.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the classification of fungi by Alexopoulos and Mims (1979), which is one of the most widely used systems of fungal taxonomy. We have summarized the main features, examples, and significance of each division, subclass, and class of fungi. We have also highlighted the similarities and differences between the various groups of fungi.
Fungi are a diverse and fascinating group of organisms that have many roles and applications in nature and human society. They are also challenging to classify due to their complex and varied life cycles, morphologies, and phylogenies. The classification of fungi by Alexopoulos and Mims (1979) is a useful tool for mycologists and students to understand the diversity and evolution of fungi. 4aad9cdaf3