Short Answer
Kingdom Fungi includes organisms such as mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. These organisms are eukaryotic, lack chlorophyll, and cannot prepare their own food. They depend on other organisms for nutrition and mostly live on dead or living organic matter.
Fungi have a simple body structure and usually reproduce by spores. They play an important role in nature by decomposing dead plants and animals and recycling nutrients back into the environment.
Detailed Explanation :
General Features of Kingdom Fungi
Kingdom Fungi is one of the five kingdoms of life and includes a large group of organisms that are different from plants and animals. Fungi are found everywhere, especially in moist and warm environments. They show unique features in structure, nutrition, and reproduction. The general features of Kingdom Fungi are explained below in simple and easy language.
Eukaryotic Organisms
All fungi are eukaryotic organisms. This means their cells have a true nucleus that is surrounded by a nuclear membrane.
Fungal cells also contain membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. Because of this, fungi are more complex than bacteria but simpler than plants and animals in body organization.
Lack of Chlorophyll
One of the most important features of fungi is that they do not contain chlorophyll. Due to the absence of chlorophyll, fungi cannot perform photosynthesis.
Because they cannot make their own food, fungi depend on other organisms for nutrition. This clearly separates fungi from green plants.
Heterotrophic Mode of Nutrition
Fungi are heterotrophic organisms, meaning they depend on external sources for food. They absorb nutrients from organic matter rather than ingesting food.
Based on their mode of nutrition, fungi can be:
- Saprophytic – feeding on dead and decaying matter
- Parasitic – living on living organisms and causing diseases
- Symbiotic – living in association with other organisms, such as lichens and mycorrhiza
This absorptive mode of nutrition is a key feature of fungi.
Body Structure of Fungi
Most fungi have a filamentous body structure. Their body is made up of long, thread-like structures called hyphae.
A group of hyphae together forms a network known as mycelium. The mycelium spreads over the surface or inside the food source and absorbs nutrients.
Some fungi, like yeast, are unicellular and do not form hyphae.
Cell Wall Made of Chitin
Fungal cells have a rigid cell wall outside the cell membrane. The cell wall is mainly made of a substance called chitin.
Chitin provides strength and protection to the fungal cell. This feature distinguishes fungi from plants, whose cell wall is made of cellulose.
Reproduction
Fungi reproduce by both asexual and sexual methods. Asexual reproduction is more common and usually occurs by the formation of spores.
Spores are light, tiny structures that can spread easily through air, water, or animals. Sexual reproduction also occurs in some fungi and involves the fusion of two compatible cells.
Non-motile Nature
Fungi are generally non-motile, meaning they cannot move from one place to another like animals.
They grow by extending their hyphae into the surrounding area. This growth helps them reach food sources.
Habitat
Fungi are found in a wide variety of habitats. They mostly grow in moist and dark places where organic matter is available.
They can be found in soil, water, decaying plants, food materials, and even inside living organisms.
Storage of Food
Fungi store their food in the form of glycogen and oils. This storage material is similar to that found in animals, not plants.
This feature further shows that fungi are different from plants.
Role in Nature
Fungi play a very important role in maintaining ecological balance. They act as decomposers and break down dead plants and animals into simpler substances.
This process releases nutrients back into the soil, making them available for plants. Some fungi are also useful in food production, medicine, and industry, while others can cause diseases.
Conclusion
Kingdom Fungi includes eukaryotic, non-green organisms that depend on other organisms for nutrition. They lack chlorophyll, have a cell wall made of chitin, and show absorptive heterotrophic nutrition. Most fungi have a filamentous body structure and reproduce by spores. Fungi play an important role as decomposers and help maintain balance in nature. Their unique features clearly separate them from plants and animals.