Abstract: In the biological world, the status of fungi has been controversial. Some people think that fungi are lower plants, while others think that fungi have nothing to do with plants. Are fungi a lower plant? This article will discuss the classification characteristics, nutritional methods, ecological functions and other aspects of fungi...
In the biological world, the status of fungi has always been controversial. Some people think that fungi are lower plants, while others think that fungi have nothing to do with plants. Are fungi a lower plant? This paper will discuss the classification characteristics, nutritional methods, ecological functions and other aspects of fungi to better understand the status of fungi in the biological world.
Classification and characteristics of fungi 1. Fungi are a class of organisms composed of eukaryotic cells. They do not have photosynthesis and cannot synthesize organic matter on their own.
2. The cell wall of fungi is composed of polysaccharides such as chitin and beta-glucan, which is different from the cell wall of plants.
3. The mycelium of fungi has a strong growth ability and can form a huge mycelium network without separation between the mycelium.
4. According to their different reproductive methods, fungi are divided into different types such as ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, and zygotes.
Differences between fungi and plants 5. There are obvious differences between fungi and plants in terms of cell wall composition, nutritional methods, growth habits, etc.
6. Plants synthesize organic matter by themselves through photosynthesis, while fungi can only obtain energy by parasitizing or decomposing organic matter of other organisms.
7. Fungi can grow and reproduce in a wide range of environments, while plants require specific light and environmental conditions to grow.
8. Fungi and plants are also quite different in their reproductive methods. Plants generally reproduce their descendants through pollen transmission, while fungi reproduce through spores.
The role of fungi in ecosystems 9. Fungi are one of the most important decomposers on earth and play an important role in decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients in nature.
10. Fungi can also symbiosis with plants to form mycorrhiza, which helps plants absorb nutrients and water from the soil.
11. Fungi can also help other organisms resist pathogens and harmful substances and play an important role in maintaining ecological balance.
The relationship between fungi and humans 12. Fungi have great application value in medicine. Common antibiotics such as penicillin and streptomycin are produced by fungi.
13. Fungi can also be used to make foods, such as fermented foods such as yogurt and cheese.
14. But at the same time, certain fungi can also cause human diseases, such as Candida albicans infection.
The value of fungi in scientific research 15. Fungi are of great value in basic scientific research. Their growth habits, genetic characteristics, metabolic pathways, etc. are all important contents in the research of mycology, ecology and other fields.
By discussing the classification characteristics, nutritional methods, and ecological functions of fungi, we can conclude that fungi are not lower plants. They are obviously different from plants in many aspects, but at the same time they play an indispensable role in the ecosystem. It has high application value and scientific research value.