PRESENTED BY MEENTU PRAKASH

M.sc. Microbiology 1st

Fungi have both positive and negative roles in our daily life.

So they are our friends as well as foes (enemy)

They are described as below:

USEFUL ROLES OF FUNGI

Many saprophytic fungi decompose plant and animal debris and continuously remove it from the man’s environment.

During this process they also liberate a large amount of CO2, which is used by the green plants for the synthesis of food by photosynthesis.

Decomposition of organic wastes also result in the formation of humus, which is needed for the growth of plants.

Uses as decomposer’s of wastes

A symbiotic association of fungi and the roots of higher plants is called mycorrhiza.

Literal meaning of mycorrhiza is fungus root. There are mainly two kinds of mycorrhizae- ecto & the

endo mycorrhizae. in case of ectomycorrhizae, the fungus completely encloses

the rootlets in a sheath. The hyphhae penetrate only between the cells of root cortex( intercellular).

In case of endomycorrhizae , the fungus does not form an external sheath but lives within the cells of the root(intracellular).

Mycorrhizal roots generally lack root hairs. This association helps in the absorption of nutrients.

The mycorrhizal roots are generally resistant to infection.

MYCORRHIZA

There are about 200 species of fungi which are used as food.

The most important among them are common field mushroom (Agaricus compestris), puff balls (Lycoprdon & Clavatia), morels or guchi (Morchella esculenta), Catherella cibarius & Boletus edulis is very high & almost equal to animal protein.

Though the food content is not high in these edible fungi, they are rich source of vitamins.

They are delicious in taste and regarded as delicacies of the table

Morchella esculentaCatherella cibarius

LycoprdonBoletus edulis

Agaricus compestris

The common mushrooms Agaricus compestris is cultivated on commercial basis in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, South India & other states of India. These are usually grown on compost beds in mushroom houses.

Some of the mushrooms are poisonous (Amantia muscaris, Boletus satanas, Entoloma lividium & Russula spp).

They are fatal & cause death if consumed, therefore, they are popularly called “death cups” or “destroying angels”.

The edible species are commonly called mushrooms whereas poisonous ones are called toadstools.

Amantia muscaris

Boletus satanas

Entoloma

lividium

Russula

The large scale production of yeast cake is called ‘microbial farming’

These are prepared by mixing a large number of yeast cells with some inert substances such as, starch and then compressed to form cakes.

Yeast cells are rich in protein and hence, the yeast cakes are eaten directly as health giving food.

Yeast cakes are extensively used in baking and brewing industries.

They are also used in laboratories to demonstrate fermentation in sugary solution.

YEAST CAKES

Many strains of fungi produce potential metabolities which are used as medicines or in the preperation of medicines. Some metbolic products used in medicine are-

Ergot: It is a most useful drug obtained from sclerotia of Claviceps purpure. The fungus is parasitic on grasses , especially rye. The disease is called ‘ergot of rye’.

The ergot contains alkaloid- ergotinine & many other substances like- ergotonic acid, cornutine, spacelotoxin, etc.

The drug stimulate muscles of uterus & used as abortitacient to assit child birth.

USES IN MEDICINE

It is also used to increase blood pressure, controls uterine haemorrhage & in many other uterine disturbances.

Antibiotics: An organic substance; produced by a microorganism, which inhibit or reduce the growth of certain microorganism is called an antibiotic.

ANTIBIOTICS SOURCES USES

Penicillin Penicillium notatum Used against gram+ bacteria. Clinically it against pneumonia, rheumatic fever, tonsillites, tetanus, diptheria & many other diseases.

Griseofulvin Penicillium griseofulvum

Used against mycosis.

Cephalosporin Cephalosporium acremonium ( a marine fungus)

Used against Gram+ & Gram – bacteria; typhoid

Jawaharene Aspergillus spp. Used against small pox, influenza, leukoderma, etc.

Clavicin Aspergillus clavatus Used against fungal diseses.

Some of the antibiotics obtained from fungi, their sources & applications are listed below- in table

Fungi are rich source of many vitamins.

Vitamins B complex is obtained from yeasts. Other vitamins obtained from yeasts & moulds are – vitamin D, Riboflavin, Ergosterol, etc.

Vitamins

Fungi are used in many important industries in the production of varied products.

Alcoholic fermentation: The common alcoholic beverages- wine & beer are fermentation products by the activity of different species of Saccharomyces.

Wine is made from juice of grapes or other fruits by allowing yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to induce alcoholic fermentation.

It contains 10-12 % alcohol

Industrial uses

Beer is chiefly made from barley grains. The starch of grain is first converted to fermentable sugars, maltose & glucose by the process called malting.

It is then fermented by special strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The beer contains 3 – 8 % alcohol.

Other brands such as, whisky, brandy, rum, and gin are distilled alcoholic beverages.

Whisky is distilled from fermented mash of cereals or potatoes & contains upto 50% alcohol.

Brandy is distilled from wine & contains upto 60 – 70 % alcohol.

Rum is obtained by distillation of fermented sugarcane jauice or molasses & contains about 40% alcohol.

PRODUCTS SOURCE OR FERMENTING ORGANISM

USES

Citric acid Penicillium spp & Aspergillus spp.

Used in flavouring extracts, confectionery, dyeing, medicine, soft drinks, silvering mirrors, etc

Oxalic acid Aspergillus niger Organic acid used in medicines & many industries.

Itaconic acid Aspergillus terreus In plastic & glass industries & jewellery.

Kojic acid Aspergillus oryzae As anticeptic & in preperation of many chemicals.

Other industrial products

A large no of enzymes such as, protease, invertase, maltase, catalase, cellulase, amylase, pectinase, & glucose oxidase are produced by fungi.

Maltase & α amylase are obtained from Mucor rouxii, Rhizopus japonicus & aspergillus niger.

Glucose oxidase is obtained from Penicillium chrysogenum.

Pectinase, protease & catalase are obtained from Aspergillus niger,

Invertase is obtained from yeast

Enzymes

. The phytoharmone gibberellic acid is obtained from the culture of Gibberella fujikuroi & Fusarium moniliforme.

It is used to induce growth and flowering in plants.

Gibberellic acid

Many soil inhabitant fungi parasites over soil born pathogen and thus control plant diseases.

Trichoderma lignorum & Gliocladium fimbriayum, found in damp soil, inhibit the growth of Pythium sp. & control damping off disease.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

1. Spoilage of food : Many mould such as, Rhizopus, Mucor, Aspergillus, & Penicillium grow on bread, jams, jellys, etc. & render them unfit for human consumption

2. Spoilage of goods : Many household & commercial goods are attacked & destroyed by fungi. These include-

Electric goods - Attacked by certain moulds Clothing -cotton & rayon are attacked by

Aspergillus, Pencillium, Rhizopus, & Mucor

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF FUNGI

Wool – attacked by Alternaria, Fusarium, & Penicillium.

Paper & books- Attacked by Aspergillus Alternaria, Fusarium, etc.

Leather & leather goods – Attacked by Aspergillus & Penicillium niger.

Rubber – attacked by varios species of Aspergillus & Penicillium.

Optical instruments – Destroyed by Aspergillus & Rhizopus nigricans

Spoilage of goods

3.Destruction of timber wood :Felled timber is attacked by Polyporus schweinitzzi, which decays wood & cause great economic loss.

4. Allergic fungi : spores of many moulds (Rhizopus, Mucor) & fungi imperfectii (Alternaria & Homodendrum) reach the throat, lungs & other body parts produce symptoms of allergy.

Many species of fungi attack human beings & cause diseases. Some of the common diseases are listed below-

HUMAN FUNGAL DISEASES

Name of disease Causal organism Parts of body affected

Dandruff Microsporum furfur Scalp

Dermatomycosis ( ring worm, barbers itch, athlete’s foot, dhobhi’s itch)

Trichophyton spp.Microsporum spp.Epidermophyton spp.

Hair follicles, skin, nails

Cryptococcosis Cryptococcus neoformans (yeast)

Ussually affects the brain, less commonly lungs, subcutaneous fat & mucous membrane.

Aspergillosis Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium spp.

Lungs & ear

Mucorosis Mucor mucedo, Rhizopus nigricans

Lungs & ear

Sporotrichosis (deep mycosis)

Sporothrix schenekii Throat, Pharynx, Muscles,

HUMAN FUNGAL DISEASES

Most of the fungi are parasitic and cause serious diseases. They attack cereals, pulses, vegetable & fruit crops of economic value.

Some of the diseases caused by fungi are liste below-

PLANT DISEASES

Wheat 1. Loose smut of wheat caused by Ustilago tritici2. Black rust caused by Puccinia graminis3. Brown rust caused by Puccinia recondita4. Leaf blight caused by Alternaria triticina Rice (Paddy)5. False smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens6. Bunt caused by Tilletia barelayana 7. Leaf smut caused by Entyloma oryzae8. Foot rot caused by Fusarium moniliforme

Cauliflower9. Brown rot caused by Alternaria brassicae

Cabbage10. White rust caused by Albugo candida

Barley1. Powdery mildew cause by Erysiphe graminis2. Covered smut caused by Ustilago hordei3. Foot root caused by Helminthosporium sativum

Sugarcane4. Red rot caused by Colletotrichum falcatum Potato5. Late blight caused by Phytopthora infestans6. Early blight caused by Alternaria solani7. Tuber rot caused by Pythium artotrogus

Apple1. Scab caused by Venturia inaequalis2. Soft rot caused by Rhizopus stolonifer3. Blue mold rot caused by Penicillium expansum

Grape 4. Downy mildew caused by Plasmopara viticola

Tomato 5. Late blight caused by Phytopthora infestans6. Early blight caused by Alternaria solani

Oat 7. Coverd smut caused by ustilago kolleri

Thank You… Very Much…