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All About Fungus
A fungus (; plural: fungi or funguses) is any member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds (British English: moulds), as well as the more familiar mushrooms
These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, protists, and bacteria
One major difference is that fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike the cell walls of plants and some protists, which contain cellulose, and unlike the cell walls of bacteria
These and other differences show that the fungi form a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), that share a common ancestor (is a monophyletic group)
This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds)
The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology (from the Greek μύκης, mukēs, meaning "fungus")
Mycology has often been regarded as a branch of botany, even though it is a separate kingdom in biological taxonomy
Genetic studies have shown that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants.
Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil, on dead matter, and as symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi
They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds
Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange
They have long been used as a direct source of food, such as mushrooms and truffles, as a leavening agent for bread, and in fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce
Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents
Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests
Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans
The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies
Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals
Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g
rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.
The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic chytrids to large mushrooms
However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 1.5 million to 5 million species, with about 5% of these having been formally classified
Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christian Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology
Advances in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits
Phylogenetic studies published in the last decade have helped reshape the classification of Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.
A group of all the fungi present in a particular area or geographic region is known as mycobiota (plural noun, no singular), e.g
"the mycobiota of Ireland".