Very few people know that organisms, such as mold, yeast and blight, are fungi that constitute a hugely spread group, with numerous species that come to be the largest group of organisms after insects, there are to date more than 250,000 species of fungi mostly microscopic. All this great variety of mushrooms that exist in the world form, "The kingdom of fungi"
The process involves the fusion of two protoplasts, which leads to the union of two compatible nuclei to meet in a single cell, which is the stage of Plasmogamy, in this process is where the arises Cariogamy , which consists of the fusion of the two nuclei; then in meiosis, the number of chromosomes will be reduced to form the haploid gametes.
On the other hand, asexual reproduction, is simpler and can be developed by a fragmentation of the mycelium, where each part gives rise to a new individual.
In this asexual form, the fungi reproduce by spores, these are formed in the sporiferous apparatus (sporocarp), which are born from the mycelium and are the visible part of the fungus. The spores of the fungi travel through the air and through the water until they settle on the surface, and upon finding the appropriate conditions it is when their reproduction begins; and it is there where the spores germinate and begin to form filaments that will later become the internal fungus, all this happens below the surface and finally when the fruit or mushroom flowers.
There are different life cycles for the mushrooms, depending on their species, but once the fruit has blossomed the life of the same will be about 7 days until their spores return to migrate.
Phycomycetes fungi: These always have flagellated reproductive cells, with hyphae not septate in the form of large branched stems. They are a class of unicellular fungi whose cells carry numerous nuclei; generally the Phycomycetes live in the water. Some of this kind of fungi, are also asexual and sexual production, including in this group the fungi that vulgarly receive the name of mold.
Ascomycetes: The sporiferous apparatus of the ascomycetes usually has the shape of a capsule, blister or sphere, which constitutes the external visible part, these have bag forms that are ascas, which contain the spores that are often a number of eight, these spores of the ascas, they are called ascospores, and they are of two types of sexes. These when disseminated give rise to hyphae of two types that must merge so that a new sporiferous apparatus can be formed. Ascomycetes are considered as the most numerous group of fungi within the Fungi kingdom. They are saprophytic fungi that live and develop on many substrates, livestock manure, even underground. Among the fungi Ascomycetes, yeasts are very useful, others are the morel, the blight and the ergot; These last two are parasites of vegetables, many of them cause the rot of trees and wood.
So there are fungi everywhere, molds in particular have a great capacity for dispersion, some of them are used for the preparation of antibiotics and to flavor cheese, however many are dangerous parasites.
There are many fungi that live in symbiosis, which is a form of association in which it is a mutual benefit with trees and plants, where the hyphae of these fungi, cover the fine roots of the tree taking from it the nutrients and providing in compensation the nitrogenous substances that are required by the plant. An abiotic association also takes place in lichens, double organisms, composed of an algae and a fungus.
Edible mushrooms:
Poisonous fungi:Certain fungi of the mold type of the genus Penicillium, generate substances that stop the activity of bacteria. One of these substances, which we call antibiotics, is penicillin, formed by a mold belonging to the genus Penicillium. These fungi became famous in 1929, when A. Fleming discovered the antibacteriological effects of penicillin.
"El descubrimiento de Alexander Fleming cambió el rumbo de la medicina moderna. Los científicos habían cultivado colonias de bacterias para estudiarlas. Fleming se dio cuenta de que un hongo había crecido accidentalmente y había matado a las bacterias que tenía a su alrededor. Este moho, la penicilina, fue el primer antibiótico que descubrimos, y su capacidad para matar bacterias salvó muchas vidas desde entonces. Hoy en día conocemos una gran cantidad de antibióticos que nos ayudan a luchar contra las enfermedades provocadas por bacterias. Source
From these observations emerged penicillin, which in 1940 in Oxford continued to investigate Florey and Chain, verifying the chemo-therapeutic activity until 1943 to manufacture industrially penicillin as a medicine.
Mushrooms in gastronomy
Mushrooms represent an important ingredient in international cuisine, especially in Europe, North America and Asia, standing out as major producers and consumers, countries such as China, USA, France, Poland and Spain.
Among the most consumed mushrooms in the world we have Agaricus bisporus, which is great nutritional value, this fungus provides many vitamins including: Thiamine (B-1), Riboflavin (B-2), Niacin (B-3), Vitamin B-6
Folate (B-9), Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Minerals, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc.
Agaricus bisporus
"They discover fungus that acts as a biofertilizer in agriculture Spain: Researchers from the University of Almería discovered a fungus that acts as a biofertilizer in agriculture. A very active strain in the control and biostimulation of plants in culture."Source
"New discovery about fungi." International scientists decipher the genetic code of a family of fungi that will help fight diseases and produce new drugs. An international consortium of researchers led by the University of Manchester has solved the genetic code of a key fungal family, including Aspergillus fumigatus, the main cause of death from infection in patients with leukemia and bone marrow transplants, as well as Aspergillus. oryzae, which is an essential component in the preparation of soy sauce."SourceReferences: Source Source Source Source Source Source Source
