Ecological importance
Fungi have great ecological importance. They are vital as decomposer and symbionts.
1. The decomposing fungi play important role in the recycling of inorganic nutrients in the ecosystem. Every one of the fundamental supplements will collect as dead groups of creatures and plants without decomposers. So their nutrients will be unavailable for the use of organisms. It will end life on earth.
2. Mycorrhizal fungi growth improve the plants . 95% of all kinds of vascular plants have this association.
3. Lichens grow on rocks. they breaks the rock and make it suitable of ecological succession.
4. Lichen are very good bioindicators of air quality as they are very sensitive to pollution.
5. Some fungi are used for bioremediation.
Commercial importance
Fungi cause economic gains an losses.
Economic gains due to fungi
1. Edible fungi
Certain fungi are edible. About 200 species of mushrooms are used as food. for example;
Morels; e.g. morchella esculenta.
Truffles; underground fruiting groups of certain ascomycetes.
Reindeer moss is used as food for reindeer and some other animals in arctic, sub arctic or boreal regions.
. Poisonous mushroom; some mushrooms are poisonous. the poisonous mushrooms are called toadstools.
2 . Use in food industry
Certain fungi are used in food industry.
Pencilliums species are used for giving flavour, aroma and characteristics colour to some cheese.
. Some species of aspergillus are used fore fermenting and producing soya sauce and soya paste from soya beans.
Citrus extract is likewise acquired from some Aspergillus species.
3.Antibiotics and other drugs
A few organisms are wellspring of anti-infection agents and different medications.
Penicillin was first anti-toxins. it was found by A.Fleming in 1928.penicillin is acquired from pencillium notatum.
Lovastatin is used for lowering the blood cholesterol.
Cyclosporine is obtained from soil fungus. It is used in organ transplantation. It prevents the transplant rejection.
Ergotine is used to relieve headache by migraine.
Griseofulvin is used to inhibits fungal growth.
4.Natural dyes
Some natural dyes are obtained from lichens. These are used in textile industry.
5. Use in biological research
Some fungi are use in biological research:
Yeasts are used in genetic and biological research. yeasts produce new generation rapidly. they increase the genetic pool and biochemical information.
Yeast were the first eukaryote which was used in genetic engineering. In 1983 utilitarian fake chromosome was made in saccharomyces cerevisiae. The some yeast was the first eukaryote whose genomic sequence was completely studies in 1996.
Yeasts are being studies for the production of some hormones.
Neurospora has been used for genetic research.
Economic Losses Due to Fungi
(A) plant diseases
Organisms produce a few compounds that can breakdown cellulose , lignin and cutin. Hence organisms cause numerous serious plant infections. They can impact every one of the plants.
1. Rust and Mucks:
These illness have caused broad harms in wheat, corn and rice crops. So it has caused enormous uprooting, starvation and demise of many individuals.
2. Fine buildup on grapes, rose, wheat and so forth.
3. Ergot of rye.
4. Red rot of sugar cane.
5. Potato wilt.
6. Cotton root rot.
7. Apple scab.
8. Brown rot in peaches, plums, apricots and cherries.
(B) Animal disease
Fungi also cause certain animal disease:
1. Ringworm and athlete's food: These are common infection disease of fungi. These disease are caused by certain imperfect fungi.
2. Candidiasis or candidosis: These are oral or vaginal thrush. These are brought about by Candida albicans.
3. Histoplasmosis:
It is a significant contamination of lungs. It is brought about by breathing in spores of an organism. This parasite in like manner in soil sullied with bird's dung. Here and there, this disease might spread into circulation system and afterward to different organs. For this situation, it could be significant and lethal.
4. Aspergillosis: It is also a lung infection. I is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. This disease is caused only in persons with defective immune system as AIDS. It may cause death.
5. Aflatoxins: Aflatoxin is a myotoxin, i.e. a toxin produced by fungi Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, Aspergillus contaminates improperly stored grains like peanuts and corn etc. milk, egg and meat. These contaminated things might have a few hints of aflatoxins.
6. Ergotism: It is caused by eating bread, made from purple ergot-contaminated rye flour.
Saprophytic fungi
One hand the saprophytic fungi are useful recycler. But on the other hand, they decompose the food, wood, fibres, leather and cause severe damages.
1. 15 to 50% of world's fruit is lost each year due to fungal attacks.
2. They cause wood rotting. Fungi destroy living trees and structural wood. Bracket or shelf fungi damage the stored cut lumber and stands of timber of living trees.
3. Pink yeast grow on shower curtains and other moist surfaces.