Laura Smith
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and therefore not plants. Fungi are their own kingdom of living things, separate from plants and animals. Mushrooms and other fungi do not make energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, instead, they get their energy from other organisms. Fungi are typically detritivores, breaking down and consuming dead organic material, and returning nutrients to the soil. Mushrooms, in particular, are identified by their fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Relatedness to Animals | Fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants. |
| Relatedness to Plants | Fungi are more closely related to other fungi than to plants. |
| Taxonomy | Fungi are in a separate kingdom from plants. |
| Cellular Respiration | Fungi respire like animals, needing O2 to thrive while expelling carbon. Plants take in carbon and expel O2. |
| Reproduction | Fungi reproduce using spores, which are not exactly like the seeds of plants. |
| Food Production | Mushrooms don't have chlorophyll for food production. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are fungi, not plants
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and therefore, not a plant. While it is common to think of mushrooms as vegetables, they are not part of the plant kingdom. Instead, they belong to the kingdom of fungi, which also includes mould and yeast. Fungi are distinct from plants in several ways. For example, fungi reproduce using spores, which are not exactly like the seeds of plants. Spores are an asexual form of reproduction and are so light and small that they can travel on gentle air currents.
Another difference between fungi and plants is that plants take in carbon and expel oxygen, whereas fungi, like animals, need oxygen to thrive and expel carbon. In addition, mushrooms do not have chlorophyll, which is necessary for plants to produce food. Instead of chlorophyll, mushrooms have mycelium, which grows into and around the food source, secreting enzymes for external digestion. The mycelium then absorbs the already-digested nutrients. This process is similar to how animals eat and digest food.
The classification of mushrooms as fungi, rather than plants, is supported by molecular evidence. This evidence suggests that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants. In fact, fungi have their own unique lineage, separate from that of plants and animals. This means that fungi have no common ancestor with plants or animals within the last half a billion years or so. Despite this, fungi have historically been grouped with plants, and this misclassification has had an impact on how we understand and engage with fungi today.
The pairing of fungi with plants can be traced back to the centuries-old division summarized by an axiom attributed to Carl Linnaeus: "Plants grow and live; Animals grow, live and feel." However, this classification is inaccurate, as fungi are now known to be more similar to animals than to plants. The distinction between fungi and plants is important because it affects how we understand, support, and engage with these organisms. It also provides an interesting perspective on our scientific biases and how we classify organisms.
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Fungi have their own kingdom
Fungi are not plants, and they have their own kingdom. Fungi were historically grouped with plants, and this misconception still persists. However, fungi are more closely related to animals than plants. Molecular evidence and computational approaches have helped us understand that fungi have their own distinct kingdom, separate from the Flora and Fauna Kingdoms.
Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs, meaning they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules. They secrete digestive enzymes into their environment and do not photosynthesize. Fungi respire, requiring oxygen to thrive and expelling carbon—the opposite of plants. Fungi reproduce using spores, an asexual form of reproduction. These spores are extremely small and light, allowing them to travel through air and water.
Fungi have a unique characteristic of chitin in their cell walls, which is not found in plants, bacteria, or some protists. This feature further distinguishes them from other kingdoms. The principal decomposers in ecological systems are fungi, and they play a crucial role in breaking down and processing dead organic material. They also communicate with each other by releasing chemical signals and creating underground networks.
The biodiversity of the fungus kingdom is immense and largely unexplored. Estimates suggest there could be between 2.2 and 3.8 million species, with only about 148,000 described so far. The number of new fungal species discovered annually has been increasing, with a peak of over 2,500 species in 2016. The kingdom is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla. Fungi include a diverse range of organisms, from mushrooms and mold to yeast.
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Fungi do not photosynthesise
Fungi, including mushrooms, are not plants. Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants. Fungi have their own kingdom, separate from plants and animals, because they have no common ancestor with either in the last half a billion years or so.
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Mushrooms reproduce by producing spores
Fungi, including mushrooms, are not plants. Fungi have their own kingdom, separate from plants, animals, and bacteria. Fungi reproduce in both sexual and asexual ways. Mushrooms reproduce by producing spores, which are akin to the seeds of a plant. However, spores are not exactly the same as seeds. They are smaller and lighter than plant seeds, so they can float on the wind or hitch a ride on an animal to travel to new locations.
Spores are an asexual form of reproduction. They are produced by one parent only, through mitosis, and are genetically identical to that parent. Asexual spores are released either outside or within a special reproductive sac called a sporangium. Fragments of hyphae can also grow new colonies. Mycelial fragmentation occurs when a fungal mycelium separates into pieces, with each component growing into a separate mycelium.
Sexual reproduction in mushrooms involves the formation of "seeds" or spores, which are produced in structures called fruiting bodies. The spores are typically dispersed by wind, water, or other means to new locations where they can germinate and grow into new colonies. When spores land in a moist place, they germinate and grow a network of fine threads of hyphae, which release chemicals to dissolve food, and the digested nutrients are then absorbed by the growing fungus.
Mushrooms can also reproduce asexually by budding, where a small fragment of the parent fungus grows into a new individual. During budding, a bulge forms on the side of the cell, the nucleus divides mitotically, and the bud ultimately detaches itself from the parent.
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Fungi are important for the ecosystem
Fungi, including mushrooms, are not plants. Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants, and they have their own kingdom. Fungi are distinct from plants in terms of their evolutionary history, genetics, biomechanics, and taxonomy.
Secondly, fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants, which are estimated to be crucial for over 90% of plant species. In a process known as mycorrhizal association, fungi establish intricate networks with plant roots. In exchange for carbohydrates produced by the plant through photosynthesis, fungi enhance the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. These fungal networks can connect the roots of different plant species, increasing the diversity of the soil microbiome and facilitating the sharing of resources.
Additionally, fungi contribute to ecological balance and biodiversity. They can act as animal pathogens, helping to control the population of damaging pests. Certain types of fungi are being investigated as potential microbial insecticides, with some already on the market. For example, Beauveria bassiana is being tested as a biological control agent for the emerald ash borer.
Fungi also have commercial importance, as they produce secondary metabolites that are valuable in various industries. For instance, antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins are isolated from fungi, and wild yeasts are used in the fermentation process for brewing and winemaking.
Overall, fungi play a critical role in maintaining the health and harmony of ecosystems, and their ability to span multiple dimensions of time, space, and biological interactions makes them unique and indispensable in the web of life.
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Frequently asked questions
No, mushrooms are not plants. They are fungi. Fungi are their own kingdom of living things, separate from plants and animals.
Plants make energy from sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. Mushrooms, on the other hand, get their energy from other organisms, similar to animals.
Plants reproduce by making seeds. Mushrooms reproduce by producing spores. These spores are microscopic and are located under the cap of the mushroom, in the gills.
Examples of fungi include mushrooms, mold, and yeast.
Fungi can be found in almost any habitat, but they are typically found on land, in soil, or on plant material.
