To briefly summarize fungi and their structures, contrary to what is known, they are not a plant or an animal, but they have similar characteristics to both. It is a eukaryotic, spore-forming organism that does not contain chlorophyll. Chitin and glucan form the cell wall; In plants, the cell wall consists of cellulose. As in animals, it stores food as glycogen1,2,3.
The structure that makes up their body is called the thallus. The structure that attaches to the environment they are in and provides substance intake from the soil is called a rhizoid. The mycelium is the aggregated form of root-like hyphae. Varieties of mycelium,(yüklem eksik) pseudo mycelium, plasmodium, or single-cell thallus. The hypha is the filamentous structure in the mycelium. While the hyphae are undivided in primitive fungi, they consist of divisions in advanced fungi, called septum (plural septa), which enable them to have a multicellular structure. It has millions of extensions and colonies that are too small to be seen. Fungi also play an important role in organic matter decomposition (with houstorium), and nutrient cycling. Mycorrhiza is called a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. For these reasons, its place in our lives is much more than it is thought2,3.
Asexual reproduction; is a type of reproduction that is based on mitosis, comes from a single ancestor, does not create hereditary diversity, and therefore does not contribute to evolution, and is also rapid. Reproduction by fission, budding, spore reproduction, parthenogenesis, regeneration, and vegetative reproduction are types of asexual reproduction. If sexual reproduction is; It is a type of reproduction that is based on meiosis and fertilization, comes from two ancestors, creates hereditary diversity and therefore contributes to evolution, and the reproduction rate is very slow compared to asexual reproduction. Isogamy, heterogamy, oogamy, conjugation, hermaphroditism, and metagenesis are types of sexual reproduction4.

Fungi reproduce sexually and asexually (vegetative reproduction). If a single cell of the thallus can form a new thallus, it is an asexual spore. Sporangiospores, thallospores and conidia are asexual spores4.
Sporangiospores are formed in sacs called sporangium and contain many haploid nuclei and protoplasm (the cell’s life content) in its membrane. It takes the form of sporangiospores when mature. Those with flagella are called zoospores, and those without flagella are called aplanospores. Those with whips can move in the water.
Thallospore is formed by the transformation of thallus cells into spores. Arthrospores type, by separating the cells from each other by the septum; Chlamidospores is formed by thickening of the cell walls.
Conidia are formed in the conidiophore (spore carrier). The shape, color, and number of cells vary according to the type of fungus. Some species are found embedded in or on plant tissue.
Sexual reproduction consists of plasmogamy, karyogamy, and meiosis. Plasmogamy is the union of the protoplasms of two different cells. Karyogamy is formed by the fusion of dikaryotic cell nuclei and 4 haploid cells are formed as a result of meiosis. According to the type of fungus, spores are divided into five as resting spores, oospores, ascospores, zygospores, or basidiospores5,6.
Conclusion
Fungi come into play at many points in our lives. In the fermentation of a bread or beer, the rotting of fruits and vegetables, the mold growth of food, and many more. Mycology, which was the study of fungi, which was thought to be a plant in the past, was thought to be a branch of botanical science. Fungi, which have common points with animals and plants, have many more features to be discovered.
References:
- Structure of Fungus Anonymous https://avys.omu.edu.tr/storage/app/public/mirays/66587/Bitki%20Koruma%204%20(Funguslar).pdf 27.02.2023 – 13.31
- Structure of Fungus Prof.Dr.F.Sara DOLAR https://acikders.ankara.edu.tr/pluginfile.php/10113/mod_resource/content/0/9.Konu.pdf#:~:text=Funguslar%C4%B1n%20b%C3%BCy%C3%BCk%20%C3%A7o%C4%9Funlu%C4%9Fu%20e%C5%9Feysiz%20ve,a%C3%A7%C4%B1s%C4%B1ndan%20e%C5%9Feysiz%20%C3%A7o%C4%9Falma%20daha%20%C3%B6nemlidir. 27.02.2023 – 19.54
- Structure of Fungus Deacon J. Fungal Biology. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers. (2005). ISBN 978-1-4051-3066 28.02.2023 – 13.46
- Asexual and Sexual Reproduction Engelstädter, Jan “Asexual but Not Clonal: Evolutionary Processes in Automictic Populations | Genetics”. Genetics. 206 (June 2017). (2): 993–1009. doi:10.1534/genetics.116.196873. PMC 5499200. PMID 28381586. Retrieved 21 August 2018. 28.02.2023 – 13.30
- Physical Chemical Properties of Fungi McConnaughey Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, 1 2014 28.02.2023 – 14.25
- Taxonomy of Fungus Cheek, Martin; Nic Lughadha, Eimear; Kirk, Paul; Lindon, Heather; Carretero, Julia; Looney, Brian; et al. “New scientific discoveries: Plants and fungi” Plants, People, Planet. 2 (2020). (5): 371–388. doi:10.1002/ppp3.10148 28.02.2023 – 17.11
Figure Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus#CITEREFDeacon2005
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