Chapter 25, Problem 1AL

Summary Introduction

Fungi are terrestrial eukaryotic, spore-bearing organisms. They are distributed from polar to nonpolar part in the world. They lack chlorophyll and have both sexual and asexual reproductive systems. There are various groups of organisms are classified under fungi, nearly 90,000 fungal species are described. They are saprophytes, obtain nutrients from various dead organic materials by releasing degradative enzymes into their surroundings. They can degrade complex organic materials into simple organic compounds and other inorganic molecules, therefore, fungi are considered as important decomposers.