Interactions of fungi

Interactions of fungi

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  Fungal Interactions Dr. HarinathaReddy M.sc, Ph.D. [email protected] Department of Microbiology Sri Krishnadevaraya University Anantapur, A.p. India
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  Symbiotic association: Example: Mycorrhiza Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular host plant.  The association is generally mutualistic, some times it is pathogenic in the host plants.  Many Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Zoomycetes form symbiotic relationships with other organisms, it includes algae, plants and animals.
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  Lichens:  Lichens isa symbiotic association between fungi and various groups of algae or Cyanobacteria.  The most characteristic feature of lichens is that the combination of algae (called the phytobiont) and fungus (called the mycobiont),
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  Fungi & insectMutualism:  Fungi have symbiotic relation with numerous insects.  Arthropods depend on the fungus for protection from predators and pathogens, while the fungus obtains nutrients from insect.  The association between species of Basidiomycota and scale insects is one example.
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  Second example:  Theassociation between leaf-cutting ants of Central and South America and Saprophytic fungi.  Ants cut disks of leaves from plants and pile them up in gardens.  Fungi are cultivated in these disk gardens, digesting the cellulose in the leaves and release proteins and sugar for leaf cutting ants. Some times trees in tropical forest contain toxic compounds. These toxic compounds Break down by fungi and release proteins And sugars for the leaf cutting ants.
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  Gut mutualisms:  Ruminantsdigestive systems contain several large chambers like that of big fermentation tank. It contains, semi-fluid suspension of chewed plant material.  A mixture of fungi (Spizellomyces sp., Synchytrium sp. and Yeast) that are able to convert the indigestible cellulose of the plant in to simple organic molecules.
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  Parasitism: FUNGAL PARASITES OFPLANTS:  In parasitism the fungus benefits from the association and damages the host organism (animals and plants).  A great diversity of fungi cause plant disease.  Two types of fungal parasites: Nectrotrophs and Biotrophs.
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   Citrus cankercaused by Xanthomonas citri.  Red rot of sugarcane is caused by Colletotrichum falcatum.  Wheat leaf rust caused by pathogen is Puccinia (rust fungus).  Tikka Disease of Groundnut caused by Cercospora personata. 
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  FUNGAL PARASITES OFANIMALS: Some of the fungi are pathogenic to animals, causing infections that are called mycoses. Fungi cause two types of infections: Superficial infections, are caused by fungi that attack the skin and nails and hair. These fungi are known as dermatophytes. Systemic infections: are caused by fungi that attack the tissues, vital organs and the nervous system.
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   Aspergillus fumigatuscause serious lung infection called Aspergillosis.  Candida albicans, causes white patches on the mouth mucosa called Candidiasis.
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   A largepart of mycoses is transmitted through inhalation, ingestion or the infection of skin wounds and attack the skin, hairs, nails and mucosa.  When inhaled, the spores of the genus Aspergillus fumigatus cause serious lung infection called Aspergillosis.  The mouth, the digestive and the reproductive systems can be infected by the Candida albicans, causes white patches on the mouth mucosa called Candidiasis.  Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin.  About 40 types of fungi can cause ringworm. They are typically of the Trichophyton and Microsporum.
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  Predation:  Predaceous fungior Carnivorous fungi are fungi that derive some of their nutrients from trapping and eating microscopic or other minute animals.  More than 200 species have been described, belonging to the division Ascomycota and Basidiomycota.  They usually live in soil and many species trap nematodes (nematophagous fungus), while others attack amoebae.
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  Trapping the Nematodes: Fungiuse many methods in order to trap their prey. Hyphal Rings:  One method used by fungi to trap nematodes is the fungal ring.  The fungus produces hyphae that end in an open constricting loop.  When a nematode swims through this loop, the loop suddenly fills with water.
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  Adhesive Hyphae:  Anothermethod commonly used by nematophagous fungi is the use of adhesive hyphae.  The fungi who utilize this method create adhesive knobs or nets of adhesive hyphae.  The fungus creates such structures in order to trap the nematode within the structure.
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