10 Interesting Facts About Fungi You Probably Might Not Know

You must have heard or read about fungi in the science books, it is living organisms that are usually found on the Earth and ranges in size from being tiny to as large as square miles. Throughout the world, it is known that there are to be millions of different species of fungi right from small single-celled yeast to the honey fungus. There are many types of mushrooms that are responsible for the cases of sickness and death.

1. Use of Fungi Can Cure Disease

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Have you ever used antibiotic penicillin? This antibiotic is produced from a mold that is the fungus. It was in 1929 when a doctor in London, England declared that the medicine he called penicillin had been derived from the Penicillium chrysogenum. His discovery and research lead to the development of many antibiotics that would save a number of lives.

2. Fungi Play Key Role in the Environment

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Fungi are the main decomposers of dead organic matter. Without Fungi, the dead trees, leaves and other matter in the forests wouldn’t have their nutrients available for different flora to use. It plays a key role in the cycle of nutrients in the environment. For instance, Nitrogen is the main component released when fungi decay organic matter.

3. It is the Largest Living Organism on the Planet

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Honey mushroom is the largest living organism ever noticed on the planet. According to the study, it is believed that Honey mushroom is about 2400 years old and covers nearly 200 acres. The lesser known fact about this fungus is that it kills trees as it spreads.

4. Sometimes It can be Deadly

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You never know but some fungi are toxic enough that it can cause death in humans and even in animals. This kind of fungi contains a substance called as amatoxins which are good enough in restraining RNA polymerase II. It is an essential enzyme that is majorly involved in the production of a type of RNA call messenger. (14.1)

5. Fungi cannot Prepare Their Own Food

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This might sound you interesting, but fungi cannot prepare their own food, as it lacks chlorophyll of higher plants and is only recognized by their bodies which are just the visible part of the fungus. For example, mushrooms, molds, and morels.

6. They Digest Food Outside Their Bodies

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Another lesser known fact about the fungi is unlike humans and animals which digest their food inside bodies, fungi digest food outside their bodies.

7. It can Also Cause Disease

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While fungi can cure diseases, it can also cause severe problems. For instance, ringworm is associated with fungi, it gets its name from the shape of rash produced. Other major diseases which are caused by fungi are Athlete’s foot, valley fever, and Histoplasmosis.

8. It can be Also Used to Control Pests

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There exist some fungi which are able to subdue the growth of insects and nematodes that may harm crops. Unfortunately, there is very less number of this kind of fungi group who are referred to as hyphomycetes.

In addition, it also increases the fertility of the soil and does not allow any other plant harming bodies to grow around it.

9. It is Present Everywhere

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You can notice fungi everywhere; it can be noticed in sand dunes, inside radioactive nuclear reactors, on rocks, in space and even in your lungs. Some fungi can even break down chemicals like petroleum products and chemical warfare like Sarin into their inner molecular parts.

10. They are Most Unappreciated

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Fungi are often undervalued and non-explained organisms on the earth. They are aerobic and chemoheterotrophic and play a vital role in the degradation of toxic compounds. In fact, fungi are the major cause of wood degradation in buildings. (14.2)