Fungi like yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and mushrooms. Many fungus-like organisms, including slime molds and oomycetes (water molds), do not belong to the kingdom of Fungi but are often called fungi. In this article we will see parasitic fungi examples.
Parasitic fungi are those fungi that, when they come in contact with their host plants under the form of motile zoospores, can digest the root cell wall and penetrate into the cytoplasm, and colonize the whole plant.
Parasitic fungi examples includes the following:
Parasitic fungi
Parasitic fungi are microscopic and are known by their symptoms (such as brown rot in peaches). Domesticated animals are also harmed by toxic introduced fungi – for example, Pithomyces chartarum causes facial eczema in cattle and sheep. Another non-native fungus, the chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been implicated in the global decline of frogs, including the rare Archey’s frog in New Zealand.
Introduced fungal parasites cause most pasture grasses and crops for agriculture and forestry diseases. Practices such as spraying fungicides are needed to minimize the damage. Generally, they feed on living plants and animals and are the main cause of plant disease worldwide. There are several native parasitic fungi. These have been co-existing for millions of years, and their impact on native plants and animals is balanced largely.
Cancerous galls are caused by a fungus known as beech strawberry in beech trees. They get developed into a yellow golfball-like fruiting body in springs. In South America, these are harvested for human consumption, and pigeons and possums also eat them. In living silver beech, the native pūtawa (Laetiporus portentous) is responsible for causing wood decay. Large bracket-shaped fruiting bodies are formed, used for fire-starting and carrying because they smoke for hours. Several native parasitic fungi examples are also found on leaves.
For example, Cornelia tropica causes spots on the leaves of tōtara trees. The vegetable caterpillar was the first new parasitic fungus introduced in New Zealand in 1836 which is a parasite of the ground-dwelling caterpillar stage of certain native moths. The fungus mummifies the caterpillar, then forms a stick-like fruiting body from the caterpillar’s head, extending up to 20 centimeters above the ground. Māori burned the fungus (known as āwheto) to make powdered charcoal as a black pigment for tattoos. They also considered it a delicacy.
Sore fungi are shown to have a parasitic nature on introduced crops. Example of parasitic fungi- Harore, the bootlace mushroom (Armillaria novaezelandiae), usually decomposes dead logs and roots. Still, it can become parasitic on crop plants such as radiata pine and kiwifruit if it is already present in the soil where they are planted. It occurs where native forested land has been converted into forest plantations. In kiwifruit orchards where willow shelterbelts are fell, their roots become infected by the mushroom and infect the nearby roots of kiwifruit, and the plant becomes parasitic.
Fungus word is derived from the Latin word “fungour”, which means to flourish. It contains thallus like structures which lacks chlorophyll. Presently, there are about 500 genera and 50000 species of fungi. Example- yeasts, moulds, moulds, mushrooms, etc. In botany, the study of fungi is called mycology. It can be defined as non-green, nucleated thallophytes.
Fungi can be classified as parasites and saprophytes based on their nutrition. Parasitic fungi survive by living on different living organisms. Usually, they live by the mode of parasitic. The organism on which the parasitic fungi feeds is called hosts. The host gets infected when the thallus part of the fungus gets attached to the host through various processes. Parasitic fungi are considered harmful organisms. These are divided into:
In this article, we will see different parasitic fungi examples to learn about the facts around them.
Rickia wasmannii
It is an obligate ectoparasite of Myemica ants which belongs to the family of Laboulbeniaceae. It has a detrimental effect on the hosts. The worker shown to have improved sanity behaviour, decreased level of intraspecific aggression and thickness of cuticle are also seen to be reduced.It is the largest genus of the fungal parasite, which mainly acts on grasses. Its species is also eaten as traditional Mexican food. The species of Ustilago mainly acts on monocotyledonous hosts. It generates basidia which produces haploid yeast. Reproduction occurs through conjugation. It is a common parasitic fungi examples.
Pythium debaryanum
It belongs to the parasitic oocyte genus. Most of the species are known as plant parasites. In animals, it is a pathogen causing pythiosis. In plants, it causes soft rot and damping-off of seedlings. The life cycle of the fungus is divided into two stages- one is sexual reproduction and the other with asexual reproduction. It produces a pectinolytic enzyme to enter inside the host plant.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
It is also known as amphibian chytrid fungus, which causes the disease chytridiomycosis. It infects the keratinized skin of amphibians. It is mostly found in the African and Asia regions.
Pseudogymnoascus destructans
It is also known as Geomyces destructans. It is a causative agent of the disease called white-nose syndrome, which mainly affects the bat population. The majority of these fungi are found in the United States and Canada. They grow very slow on artificial media and can not grow at a temperature above 20 degrees Celcius. It is the largest genus of the fungal parasite, which mainly acts on grasses. Its species is also eaten as traditional Mexican food. The species of Ustilago mainly acts on monocotyledonous hosts. It generates basidia which produces haploid yeast. Reproduction occurs through conjugation. It is a common parasitic fungi examples.
Puccinia sparganoides
It is a fungus which causes ash rust disease on plants. It infects green and white ash in Delaware. It has five spore stage in which two occurs on alternate hosts for the occurrence of ash infection. The use of fungicide can help control the disease. It is the largest genus of the fungal parasite, which mainly acts on grasses. Its species is also eaten as traditional Mexican food. The species of Ustilago mainly acts on monocotyledonous hosts. It generates basidia which produces haploid yeast. Reproduction occurs through conjugation. It is a common parasitic fungi examples.
Geomyces destructans
It is a psychrophilic fungus commonly found in soil and decaying matter in a cool environment. The growth of this fungus is restricted to cold temperatures. The target organisms of this fungi are hibernating bats.
Claviceps purpurea
It is an ergot fungus that grows on rye and cereal related plants. It is called a seed pathogen of grasses and cereals. They can be dangerous to mammals if ingested by mammals because they contain alkaloids.
Myrmicinosporidium durum
It is a fungal parasite of ants commonly found in the Western hemisphere. It is a parasitic, chronic, and the fungus sporulates in the host’s hemocoel. The spores are multinucleate. The infected ants are seen to be long-lived, darker in colour, and display normal behaviour.
Ustilago
It is the largest genus of the fungal parasite, which mainly acts on grasses. Its species is also eaten as traditional Mexican food. The species of Ustilago mainly acts on monocotyledonous hosts. It generates basidia which produces haploid yeast. Reproduction occurs through conjugation. It is a common parasitic fungi examples.
Erysiphe
This parasitic fungus belongs to the order Erysiphales. It is an obligate biotrophic plant pathogen which grows only on living host organisms. It causes powdery mildew disease, easily identified by powdery spots on the leaves and stems. It is the most serious disease caused by fungi.
Septobasidium
This genus of fungus mainly causes the disease to scale insects that feed on the trees.
Puccinia graminis
It is called a smut fungal parasite which belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota. The rust usually appears as yellow, orange, red, and brown powder on leaves, young shoots and fruits.
Endothia parasitica
The scientific name of this fungal parasite is Cryphonectria parasitica. This fungal parasite causes a famous disease called blight of chestnut. It is distributed in the eastern USA, China and Japan.
Ophiostoma ulmi
It is a fungal parasite causing Dutch elm disease and belongs to the family Ophiostomataceae.The disease originated in Europe and caused the death of elm trees.
Hypomyces lactifluorum
This fungus is also called the lobster mushroom, parasitic ascomycete fungi. It generally grows on mushrooms, which turn the orange colour into red.
Candida albicans
It is a pathogenic and parasitic fungus. It causes diseases like candidiasis and thrush.
Armillaria mellea
It is commonly called honey fungus, which belongs to the basidiomycete fungus. It mainly acts on plants. It has a characteristic feature of bioluminescence in its mycelium.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
It is commonly known as chytrid disease. It spreads by direct contact between frogs and tadpoles through infected water.
Histoplasma capsulatum
This is a parasitic dimorphic fungi causing histopasmosis. It usually affects the lungs of human.
Cronartium ribicola
It is a parastic fungus that causes white pine blister rust.
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Hi…I am Arti Pandey, have a Master’s degree in Biotechnology. I am an academic writer in Lambdageeks and also a beginner Korean learner. I love to explore new cultures, places, and food. I love photography and had a keen interest in creative writing.