Mushrooms are one of the natural kingdoms. Until the 70s of the last century, they were attributed to plants.. Their systematics, genetics, developmental features and nutrition were studied in detail.

Signs of similarity of mushrooms with plants

A number of features of the structure and vital functions of fungi have signs of similarity with representatives of the plant kingdom:

• The specific structure of cells, for example, the presence of well-defined walls.
• Identical methods of reproduction: seed, spores play the role of seeds in fungi, by dividing the mycelium, that is, rhizomes.
• Immobility. Mushrooms, like plants, do not have the ability to move.
• The possibility of unlimited development.
• Assimilation of nutrients by absorption.

Interesting fact: unlike plants, fungi do not produce chlorophyll. This is a fundamental factor determining the characteristics of their nutrition.

Signs of similarity of mushrooms with animals

With animals, mushrooms also have a number of common symptoms:

• Heterotrophy, that is, the ability to absorb ready-made organic matter.
• The presence of chitin in the cell walls. This feature is also characteristic of arthropods.
• The possibility of accumulation of glycogen. It is used as a storage substance.
• Ability to isolate waste products.

Structural features

The basis of the body of any fungus is mycelium. In scientific terms, it is called mycelium. Mushrooms need it for nutrition. Under favorable conditions, fruiting bodies form on the mycelium, which, after ripening, produce millions of spores. In most species, they consist of hats and legs.Their size and shape are some of the most important features used in taxonomy.

What do mushrooms eat?

The basis of the nutrition of fungi is organic compounds coming from the external environment. On this basis, they can be classified into 3 large groups.

Mushroom parasites

They feed on other living organisms. This group is very peculiar, there are species that parasitize on plants, insects, animals, humans, and even other fungi. It should be noted that parasites act on the host in different ways. Some take their life and then feed on decaying tissues, while others only absorb its nutrients without causing much harm.

Interesting fact: Cordyceps fungus, growing in tropical regions, has the ability to subdue insects. His spores, sprouted into the body of the wearer, greatly affect behavior. The infected insect goes to the place with the most favorable conditions for the fungus. After death, the body will be used as an additional power source.

Saprotrophs

The basis of nutrition is decomposing organic matter, including plant and animal remains. This group also includes fungi formed on spoiled foods.

Symbiotics

Mycelium of fungi of this group braids and grows through the roots of trees, thereby replacing some of the small suction roots. The resulting symbiosis is called mycorrhiza. As a result of such a community, the tree receives additional moisture and minerals, and the mushroom is already prepared organic compounds created by the plant.

How do mushrooms reproduce?

For fungi, 3 types of reproduction are characteristic.

Vegetative

It can be carried out by parts of the mycelium, oidia, budding hyphae. The latter method is characteristic of yeast-like fungi. A distinctive feature of vegetative propagation is that it is carried out without the use of special organs.

Asexual

It is carried out using spores. It is classified into endogenous and exogenous reproduction. Their main difference is in the way spores are formed. The first is characteristic of lower fungi, the second is for higher ones.

Sexual

It occurs with the help of special spores formed in the process of cell fusion and the union of their nuclei. This method of reproduction ensures the safety of the species during periods unfavorable for vegetation. In the future, such disputes provide rapid settlement suitable for environmental conditions.

Mushrooms are not unreasonably allocated to a separate kingdom. By a number of signs, they can be attributed to both animals and plants. For example, they are endowed with the possibility of sexual reproduction, but they can not move. Eating like plants, mushrooms secrete metabolic products like animals. Currently, this kingdom is not fully understood. Scientists are constantly finding more and more new species. There is also no generally accepted classification. Most scientists classify all known species simply by the method of reproduction.