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	'''Fungi''' are eukaryotic organisms in the kingdom Fungi. The group includes yeasts, moulds, mushrooms, rusts, smuts, truffles, mildews, and many microscopic species. Fungi are not plants, animals, or bacteria, although they interact closely with all three.

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that play crucial roles in various ecosystems, including decomposition, nutrient cycling, and symbiotic relationships with other organisms. They possess a unique biology and are distinct from plants, animals, and bacteria. Fungi exhibit a wide range of forms and functions, from microscopic single-celled yeasts to complex multicellular mushrooms.
	Most fungi absorb nutrients from their surroundings rather than making food through photosynthesis. They break down organic matter, form partnerships with plants and algae, provide food and medicines, and can also cause disease in plants, animals, and people.

== Taxonomy and Classification ==
Fungi belong to their own kingdom, separate from plants, animals, and protists. They are classified into several phyla based on their characteristics and reproductive structures. Major fungal phyla include:
	== Biology ==
	Fungal cells have nuclei and other membrane-bound structures. Their cell walls usually contain chitin, which helps separate them from plants, whose cell walls are mainly cellulose.

* Ascomycota: Also known as sac fungi, they produce spores in sac-like structures called asci. Examples include yeasts, truffles, and morels.
* Basidiomycota: Commonly referred to as club fungi, they produce spores on club-shaped structures called basidia. Mushrooms, toadstools, and puffballs are examples.
* Zygomycota: These fungi form zygospores during sexual reproduction and include bread molds and pin molds.
	Many fungi grow as hyphae, thin branching filaments that form a network called mycelium. The visible mushroom is only the fruiting body of some fungi. Much of the organism may be hidden in soil, wood, leaf litter, food, or living tissue.

== Structure and Reproduction ==
Fungi exhibit a diverse range of structures and life cycles. Most fungi consist of a network of thread-like structures called hyphae, which collectively form a mass known as a mycelium. Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction involves the formation of spores through processes such as budding or fragmentation. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of specialized reproductive structures to produce spores with genetic variation.
	Yeasts are single-celled fungi. Some fungi can switch between yeast-like and filamentous forms depending on conditions.

	== Reproduction ==
	Fungi reproduce by spores and by vegetative growth. Spores may be produced sexually or asexually and can spread by air, water, animals, soil disturbance, or direct contact.

	Fruiting bodies such as mushrooms, brackets, puffballs, and truffles are structures that help make or release spores. Many fungi never produce large visible fruiting bodies.

== Ecological Roles ==	== Ecological Roles ==
Fungi play vital ecological roles, serving as decomposers, nutrient recyclers, and mutualistic partners. They break down complex organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler compounds, facilitating nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Some fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants, known as mycorrhizae, enhancing plant nutrient uptake. Lichens, which consist of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, are also important ecological indicators.
	Fungi are major decomposers. They break down dead plants, wood, leaf litter, and animal remains, returning nutrients to soils and ecosystems.

== Economic and Industrial Importance ==
Fungi have substantial economic significance. They are used in various industries, including food production (yeast for baking and brewing), medicine (antibiotics like penicillin), and biotechnology (enzymes for industrial processes). Fungi are also crucial for soil health and agriculture, promoting plant growth and disease resistance.
	Many plants depend on mycorrhizal fungi, which live in or around roots and help with water and nutrient uptake. In return, the plant supplies sugars made by photosynthesis. Lichens are partnerships between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner such as an alga or cyanobacterium.

== Pathogenic Fungi ==
While many fungi are beneficial, some are pathogens that cause diseases in plants, animals, and humans. Human fungal infections, known as mycoses, can range from mild skin infections to life-threatening systemic diseases. Examples include athlete's foot, ringworm, and candidiasis.
	Fungi also shape ecosystems as parasites and pathogens. Some control insect populations, some attack crops, and some drive disease in wild plants and animals.

	== Uses ==
	Fungi are used in:

	* Bread, beer, wine, and other fermented foods.
	* Cheese ripening and flavour development.
	* Edible mushrooms and truffles.
	* Medicines, including antibiotics and immunosuppressants.
	* Enzyme production, biotechnology, and research.
	* Soil, composting, and some forms of bioremediation.

	Their economic value comes from both direct products and the ecosystem services they provide.

	== Disease and Safety ==
	Most fungi do not cause human disease. Common fungal problems include ringworm, nail infections, vaginal yeast infections, and some mould-related respiratory conditions. More serious fungal diseases can occur after inhalation of environmental spores, in hospital settings, or in people with weakened immune systems.

	Some mushrooms are poisonous and can resemble edible species. Identification based on appearance alone can be unreliable, especially for non-specialists.

== Conservation and Research ==	== Conservation and Research ==
Fungi contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem stability. However, they are often overlooked in conservation efforts compared to more conspicuous organisms. Research on fungi includes studies on their genetics, ecology, and potential applications in bioremediation, biofuel production, and medicine.
	Fungi are less completely documented than plants and animals. Kew reports that a large share of fungal diversity remains unknown, and its Fungarium holds more than a million preserved specimens used for taxonomy, distribution records, plant-fungus studies, pathogen identification, and DNA research.

== Conclusion ==
Fungi are a diverse and fascinating group of organisms with significant ecological, economic, and medical importance. Their intricate life cycles, ecological interactions, and varied structures make them a subject of ongoing scientific exploration and discovery.
	Fungal conservation matters because fungi support soils, forests, crops, nutrient cycling, and many food webs.

== See Also ==	== See Also ==

* [[Mycology]]	* [[Mycology]]
* [[Mycorrhizae]]
* [[Lichens]]
	* [[Common_Medical_Terms]]
	* [[Macronutrient]]

	== References ==
	* [https://www.britannica.com/science/fungus Encyclopaedia Britannica: Fungus]
	* [https://www.kew.org/science/state-of-the-worlds-plants-and-fungi Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: State of the World's Plants and Fungi]
	* [https://www.kew.org/science/collections-and-resources/collections/fungarium Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: The Fungarium]
	* [https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/about/index.html CDC: About fungal diseases]

	[[Category:Biology]]
	[[Category:Medicine]]