Classification of fungi

                          Classification of fungi

1. Depending upon the cell morphology

• Yeasts: e.g Cryptococcus neoformans
• Yeast like fungi: e.g Candida albicans
• Moulds or filamentous fungi: eg. Dermatophytes
• Dimorphic fungi: eg. Blastomyces dermatitidis

2.Systematic classification

2. Based on their sexual spore formation: 4 classes

  Zygomycetes: have non septate hyphae, produce zygospore (as sexual spores) and sporangiospores (as asexual spores)

  Ascomycetes: Include both yeasts and filamentous fungi (Septate), form ascospores (sexual spore)

  Basidiomycetes: Basidiospores on a basidium or base

  Deuteromycetes:

  also called as Fungi imperfecti

  Provisional group whose sexual phase not identified

  Contains most fungi of medical importance

1. Phylum: Zygomycota = Zygote fungi (Contd.)

                  Sexual reproduction via zygosporangia that produce                                      genetically variable spores

                   Asexual reproduction via sporangia that produce spores

                  Mostly saprobic decayers of organic matter

                 e.g, Absidia, Rhizopus, Mucor

2. Phylum: Ascomycota = Sac fungi

                 Largest phylum

                Sexual reproduction via spores produced in
                                asci (sac-like cases)   Asexual reproduction via naked spores
                                (conidia)

                 

                 Many parasites especially   of plants but also of animals.eg. candida.sources of many interesting chemicals .eg.penicillum

• Other examples:

  Pneumocystis jiroveci

  Pseudollescheria

  Acremonium

  Cladosporium

  Phialophora etc.

3. Phylum: Basidiomycota = Club fungi

                  Include:

                               common mushroom, puffballs,

                                stink horns, shelf fungi,

                                plant-parasitic smuts & rusts

                  Sexual reproduction via club-shaped     reproductive structures,              basidia, containing basidiospores

                 Asexual reproduction is uncommon

               

Basidia are generally found on the surface of gills

 Other examples:

–      Trichosporon

–      Malassezia

–      Rhodotorulla

–      Filobasidiella

4. Phylum Deuteromycota:

• Imperfect Fungi
•   Are actually the ‘left over’ species
•  Sexual structures unknown (i.e., zygosporangia, asci,  basidia etc. ), so these haven’t been classified
•  e,g, Sachharomyces, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Curvularia, Fusarium, Trichophytom, Microsporum, Epidermophyton  etc.