Laura Smith
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they are not plants. They are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, which are a separate branch of life from plants and animals. Fungi have their own kingdom, which includes yeasts, molds, smuts, and rusts. Mushrooms develop from a fungus called mycelium, which forms a mat-like or net-like network of filaments in the soil or wood. When conditions are right, the mycelium develops a mushroom, which emerges from the ground or tree. Mushrooms have spores, similar to how plants have seeds, which help the fungus spread.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a mushroom? | The fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. |
| How do they grow? | Mushrooms grow similarly to plants, but they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. |
| How are they different from plants? | Fungi don't have chloroplasts that photosynthesize, they get their energy and nutrients by digesting other things. Fungi have cell walls made rigid with chitin, rather than cellulose. Their cells usually have half of a full set of DNA. |
| Are mushrooms plants? | No, mushrooms are not plants. They are part of the Fungi kingdom. |
| Are mushrooms safe to eat? | Some mushrooms are edible, while others are poisonous or unpalatable. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are a type of fungus
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of some types of fungus. The fungus's mycelium, a network of filaments, grows underground like plant roots. When conditions are right, the mycelium develops a mushroom, which emerges from the ground or a tree. Instead of seeds, mushrooms produce spores, which are like fine smoke and help the fungus spread.
Fungi do not have chloroplasts that photosynthesize; they obtain their energy and nutrients by digesting other things, like animals. They have cell walls made of chitin, not cellulose, and their cells usually have half of a full set of DNA.
Fungi play important roles in nature and for humans. They are responsible for breaking down dead materials, keeping us from being overwhelmed by leaf litter and fallen branches. Some fungi are delicious and nutritious, while others are deadly. Fungi are also used to create antibiotics and other drugs.
While mushrooms are not plants, they are commonly eaten as vegetables and provide unique health benefits not found in traditional plant or animal food groups.
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Fungi are not plants
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi. They are neither plants nor animals, constituting their own kingdom: the Fungi. Fungi include familiar mushroom-forming species, as well as yeasts, moulds, smuts, and rusts. Fungi are distinct from plants in several ways. Firstly, they lack chlorophyll and chloroplasts, and thus cannot photosynthesise. Instead, they obtain their energy and nutrients by digesting other materials, including living tissues, in a similar manner to animals.
Fungi also differ from plants in terms of their cellular composition. Their cell walls are made rigid with chitin, rather than cellulose, and their cells usually have half of a full set of DNA, unlike plants, where each cell has a full set. Additionally, fungi produce spores, which are like the seeds of plants, but much finer and produced on the gills of mushrooms. These spores help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
Fungi have historically been grouped with plants, and this misclassification has had an impact that is still felt today. However, modern molecular evidence demonstrates that fungi are, in fact, more closely related to animals than plants. This relationship is supported by computational and molecular approaches that provide robust evolutionary histories and indicate organismal relationships. Furthermore, humans share a more recent common ancestor with all fungi than we do with plants, meaning we are more closely related to a mushroom than to a tulip, for example.
Despite their differences, mushrooms and fungi play important roles in nature and for humans. They are responsible for breaking down dead materials, keeping us from being overwhelmed by leaf litter and fallen branches. Fungi are also used by horticulturalists to encourage plant growth and are a source of delicious and nutritious food, such as mushrooms, yeast in bread, and blue cheese.
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Fungi are closely related to animals
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of some types of fungus. They are neither plants nor animals but constitute their own kingdom: the Fungi. Fungi include the familiar mushroom-forming species, as well as yeasts, molds, smuts, and rusts. Fungi differ from plants in that they lack chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesize; instead, they get their energy and nutrients by digesting other things, like animals do. Fungi also have cell walls made rigid with chitin, rather than cellulose as in plants.
Despite their differences, fungi are more closely related to animals than they are to plants. In fact, humans share a more recent common ancestor with all fungi than with plants. This means that we are more closely related to a mushroom than to a tulip, for example. In 1998, scientists discovered that fungi split from animals about 1.538 billion years ago, whereas plants split from animals about 1.547 billion years ago. This means that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants.
Further evidence for this comes from phylogenetic analyses of protein sequences. These analyses have found that animals and fungi share four insertions/deletions that are not found in plants, protists, or bacteria. These include a 12-amino acid insertion in translation elongation factor 1 alpha and three small gaps in enolase. Based on this evidence, animals and fungi are considered sister groups, while plants constitute an independent evolutionary lineage.
Fungi play important roles in nature and for humans. For example, mycorrhizal fungi form mutually beneficial relationships with the roots of plants, helping them to absorb water and minerals. Fungi are also used by horticulturalists to encourage plant growth. Additionally, fungi are responsible for breaking down dead materials, keeping us from being overwhelmed by leaf litter and fallen branches. Fungi have also been used by humans to create antibiotics and other drugs, such as penicillin, and in the production of food and beverages like blue cheese, bread, and beer.
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Mushrooms have unique health benefits
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of some types of fungus. They are neither plants nor animals, constituting their own kingdom: the Fungi. While mushrooms may look similar to plants, they lack chlorophyll and have to take their nutrients from other materials.
Mushrooms have been used for their health benefits for thousands of years. They are naturally low in sodium and calories, making them an excellent substitute for red meat. They are also rich in disease-fighting nutrients, including polysaccharides, which are linked to improved insulin resistance and GI health. They also contain macronutrients that support a healthy immune system, such as selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B6. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium to maintain and build strong bones, while vitamin B6 helps form red blood cells, proteins, and DNA.
Some mushroom varieties offer unique health benefits. For example, Lion's Mane mushrooms contain compounds that support healthy brain function and neuron generation, while Oyster mushrooms support heart and metabolic health by helping to lower cholesterol. Reishi mushrooms, also known as the "mushroom of immortality," have been used to promote longevity and healthy aging.
Overall, mushrooms are a versatile and nutrient-dense food that can provide a range of unique health benefits.
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Mushrooms are cultivated differently from plants
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they are not plants. They are fungi, which constitute their own kingdom. Mushrooms are cultivated differently from plants because they have different requirements for growth. Plants develop through photosynthesis, a process that converts atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, especially cellulose. Sunlight provides an energy source for plants, but mushrooms derive all their energy and growth materials from their growth medium, through biochemical decomposition processes. Mushrooms grow well at relative humidity levels of around 95–100% and substrate moisture levels of 50 to 75%.
Mushroom cultivation requires a stable environment with controlled light, temperature, and humidity, while excluding contaminants and pests. This enables consistent production, regulated by spawning cycles. The cultivation process is time-consuming and costly, requiring specific knowledge that is not typically available in schools. As a result, many companies in Europe offer training for entrepreneurs interested in mushroom cultivation.
The process of cultivating mushrooms involves mixing spawn and supplement throughout the compost and maintaining a compost temperature of 75°–80°F. The relative humidity is kept high to minimize the drying of the compost surface or the spawn. Under these conditions, the spawn will grow, producing a thread-like network of mycelium throughout the compost. As the spawn grows, it generates heat, and if the compost temperature increases above 80° to 85°F, the heat may kill or damage the mycelium and reduce the possibility of maximum crop productivity.
To produce shiitake mushrooms, 1-meter hardwood logs with a diameter of 10–15 cm are inoculated with the mycelium of the shiitake fungus. Holes are drilled into the logs, filled with cultured shiitake mycelium, and then sealed with hot wax. The logs are then placed under the closed canopy of a coniferous stand and left to incubate for 12 to 15 months.
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Frequently asked questions
No, mushrooms are not plants. They are fungi, which constitute their own kingdom.
Mushrooms don't have chlorophyll for food production, and they don't photosynthesize. Instead, they get their energy and nutrients by digesting other things.
Mushrooms grow from the fruiting structure of a fungus called mycelium, which grows underground or beneath the bark of dead or living trees.
No, some mushrooms are edible, some are poisonous, and some are unpalatable. It's important not to eat any mushroom unless you're certain it's safe to eat!
Common mushrooms include chanterelles, shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, and fly agarics. Forms that deviate from the standard morphology have more specific names like "bolete", "truffle", and "puffball".
