Mycology

Introduction

Mycology deals with the classification and taxonomy of fungus or fungi. It also includes the research on fungi’s biochemical and genetic properties. It also determines their importance and benefits in various fields including the food production industry, medication, and agriculture. Fungi are mainly used in traditional medicine production and food production. It helps in the production of wine, beer, bread, cheese, and curd. The types of mycology include several branches like forensic mycology, lichenology, and Ethnolichenology among others.

What is Mycology?

Heinrich Anton de Bary is the father of Mycology. He was a famous German botanist, who had researched a lot on fungi's role, its importance and plant pathology. Mycology mainly deals with the study of fungus or fungi. The three major branches of mycology include forensic mycology, Lichenology, and Ethnolichenology. Mycology has major applications in the dairy, wine, baking industries, dyes and inks production. Mycological research deals with the development of various antibiotics and cholesterol-lowering drugs. These drugs include tetracycline, streptomycin, and penicillin.

Discussion on Medical Mycology

Recently, there are more than 50,000 types of fungal organisms to be found in nature. Some of them are free-living fungal creatures with no impact on humans. However, most of the fungi are responsible for a wide range of ailments for humans. Classification of these fungi is crucial for the study of the properties of fungi. For example, Candidas are pathogens and saprophytic creatures that are mostly found in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tracts and skin.

Figure 1: Candida

Most of the human contaminations are caused by Candida albicans and different other species like Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida Krusei and Candida pseudotopicalis, these are the clinical examples and are known to cause multiple ailments in the human body. In general, there are hundreds of variants of Aspergillus spp. out of which mostly four of them fumigatus, niger, flavus, and terreus are responsible to cause disease in the human body.

These are known to develop with separate branching hyphae. Some of these are also known to ascent to a long tail like non-septate hypha that emerges from specific foot cell that is headed by conidiospore which is an asexual regenerative structure.

Characteristics of Fungi

The fungi are known to have certain salient features and sets of characteristics associated with them which are listed below −

Figure 2: Fungal reproduction

• The fungi are eukaryotic and non-vascular organisms.

• The fungi are void of chloroplast, This is why in these organisms photosynthesis is absent.

• The fungi tend to grow slower as compared to the bacteria.

• Fungi are known to have both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction.

• Fungi can reproduce through spores.

• The nuclear envelope of fungi does not dissolve through the process of mitosis.

• Pheromone is a chemical compound that is responsible for the sexual reproduction in fungi.

• Fungi lacks the embryonic stage.

Classification of Fungi

Fungi’s classification is based on two significant characters −

• Based on the mode of nutrition

• Based on spore formation.

Depending upon the mode of nutrition it can be stated that −

• Fungi are saprophytic in nature, that is, they feed on dead organic products. These are further subdivided into two categories the ectophytic saprophytes and the endophytic saprophytes.

• Fungi also are known to be parasitic in nature. That is why they obtain nutrition from the hosts.

Based on spore formation −

• Fungi are classified into four different categories, Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes are mostly found in most areas, the Ascomycetes are also called sac-fungi, Basidiomycetes grow in soil, tree stumps and logs. Deuteromycetes are known to reproduce through conidia which are asexual spores.

Importance of Fungi

Fungi or fungus has some major importance as mentioned below −

• Fungi along with bacteria are responsible for releasing oxygen, carbon dioxide, phosphorous, and nitrogen into air and soil.

• The fungus also helps to break down the organic matter that can be present in foods. This is the main reason fungi are used in food production in various industries including bread, cheese, curd, wine, beer, and others.

• Fungi have various medicinal benefits and are used in traditional medicine production.

• Fungi help to prevent individuals from infection, diseases, toxicity, and dangers caused by various bacteria, viruses and harmful pathogens.

• In the case of household and agricultural filed fungi are used as cleaning agents, pesticides, or fertilizers.

• Yeasts are the major food source and are one of the major fungus types that help in the production of vitamin B.

• Bacteria are good decomposers that are used in various food production and drug industries.

• Penicillin is a major antibiotic which is obtained from a fungus called Penicillium notatum. This fungus exists widely in the atmosphere and is nonpathogenic for humans.

Conclusion

Fungi are quite abundant in nature. They can be found in various regions on earth and can survive under a certain set of conditions. Fungi are responsible for various ailments in the human body. These organisms grow out in nature and are known to be capable of reproducing through both sexual and asexual process. There are thousands of variants of fungi that can be found in nature.

FAQs

Q1. What do you mean by Mycology?

Ans. Mycology deals with the study of fungus or fungi which includes their taxonomy, use to humans, and biochemical and genetic properties. The father of mycology is Heinrich Anton de Bary, who researched the roles and biochemical and genetic properties of fungi.

Q2. What is the key importance of Mycological research?

Ans. Mycological research is necessary for the production of effective cholesterollowering drugs and antibiotics. The drugs that are produced based on this study are tetracycline, streptomycin, and penicillin that have various benefits on human health.

Q3. What are the uses of Penicillium notatum?

Ans. Penicillium notatum is a type of fungus that is present widely in the environment and is non-pathogenic to humans. It is commonly used for the production of Penicillin, widely used as an antibiotic agent derived from Penicillium mold.