Give a comparative account of the classes of Kingdom Fungi under the following: (i) mode of nutrition (i) mode of reproduction

The classes of Kingdom Fungi can be compared based on their modes of nutrition and reproduction as follows:

(i) Mode of Nutrition:

– Most fungi are saprophytic, meaning they feed on dead organic matter by absorbing soluble nutrients through their hyphal network.

– Some fungi are parasitic, relying on a living host for nutrients, often causing disease.

– There are also mutualistic fungi (e.g., lichens and mycorrhizae) that live in symbiosis with other organisms, benefiting both partners.

(ii) Mode of Reproduction:

– Fungi reproduce sexually through the formation of spores, which are produced in specialized structures like sporangia, asci, or basidia, depending on the class.

– They also reproduce asexually by various methods such as:

– Fragmentation of hyphae

– Fission

– Budding (e.g., yeast)

– Producing spores like conidia or blastospores

– Fruiting bodies (like mushrooms in Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes) are involved in sexual reproduction and spore formation.