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Economic importance of fungi is noted in their usage in medicines like antibiotics, agriculture, the nutrition industry, etc. Fungi are also used for the research purposes to get detailed insight on the different biological processes. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms responsible for spreading various diseases but they also play an essential role in accelerating various biological processes.
Fungi have a vital role in the environment due to their close relationship with fauna and distant connection with flora. Fungi, accompanied by bacteria, also turn organic matter into carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen back into the atmosphere and soil. Their osmotrophic nature helps them to absorb food and the reproduction of fungi takes place through spore formation.
Read More: Important Questions on Biological Classification
Key Terms: Fungi, Eukaryotic, Multicellular, Unicellular, Mushroom, Spores, Penicillin, Fermentation
What is Fungi?
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Fungi are eukaryotic organisms classified under the kingdom Fungi. These organisms can be single-celled or multicellular. They include organisms, particularly yeasts, mushrooms, and molds. The eukaryotic microorganisms possess a cell wall made of chitin and polysaccharides. They have a heterotrophic nature.
- The nucleus they have is surrounded by a nucleus membrane and is dense, clear, and also contains chromatin threads.
- The existence of fungi can be seen as black spots found on bread, mushrooms, and yeast cells.
- These microorganisms are also responsible for fungal and skin diseases.
- Based on the mode of nutrition, fungi can be classified as Saprophytic, Parasitic, and Symbiotic.
- Based on spore formation, fungi can be classified as Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetes.
- Economic importance of fungi varies across various industries such as agriculture, food, medicine, etc.
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Economic Importance of Fungi
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Fungi are an important organism for human life. They yield antibiotics and therefore play an important role in our lives. They are also used in agriculture to maintain soil fertility and are consumed as food. Due to their distinctive characteristics, there exists broad economic importance of fungi. These are listed below:
- Medicine
- Human Life
- Pest Control
- Food Industry
- Cheese industry
- Agriculural Sector
- Biologics
Economic Importance of Fungi
Importance in Medicine
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The broad economic importance of fungi exists in the medical industry for curing diseases in humans and animals. The economic importance of fungi in the medical field includes:
- Fungi comprise metabolites,that have commercial importance in the manufacturing of medicines.
- Penicillin, is a significant antibody produced by fungi.
- Antibodies produced by fungi prevail not only for curing diseases caused by pathogens but also for fast growth in animals produced by fungi.
- It is used in the manufacture of Streptomycin, which aids in demolishing gram-positive bacteria.
- Griseofulvin administration results in keratinized tissues found in fungi, absorbing and treating fungal skin diseases (ringworms).
Importance in Human Life
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Fungi are useful for humans as:
- Fungi provide nutrition to human beings in the form of mushrooms.
- They aid in the fermentation process, which is essential for the production of bread, cheeses, alcohol, etc.
- Mycorrhizal fungi are an essential element in the growth of plants, and plants play a vital role in human life.
- Further, for the study of eukaryotic genetics and metabolism, fungi are a research model.
- Fungi aid in balancing the nutrition cycle of the environment.
Importance in Pest Control
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Fungi are also used for pest control:
- Fungi are not categorized to be harmful to animals or plants, but they are proven to be effective in attacking pests.
- Being animal pathogens, fungi act as a controlling agent of problems.
- A fungus named Beauveria bassiana is ascertained in controlling the growth and spread of the Emerald ash borer.
Importance in Food Industry
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Fungi are used as a form of nutrition and are a fermentation agent in many food products.
- It is also vital to mention that mushrooms (a form of fungi) are a source of proteins and minerals.
- Fungiform is the basis of the baking and brewing industry. It aids in the fermentation of sugar, which makes the economic importance of fungi vital for the environment.
- The fermentation is done with the help of an enzyme present in fungi called zymase.
- It is also used in the making of wine.
- In the brewing and baking process, a by-product of carbon dioxide is created, which has many essential purposes, including:
- The solidified form of carbon dioxide is dry ice, used as a cooling agent. It is also utilized in fog machines in theatres for creating a dramatic impact.
- Carbon dioxide produced aids in giving rise to the dough.
- Another by-product created is alcohol, which is incidental.
- Making bread soft and lighter
- In protein supplements, some fungi, particularly yeast, are used to synthesize protein. The yeast named Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida utilis has a high protein content.
Importance in Cheese Industry
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Filamentous fungi are used in the production of assorted types of cheese.
- The most critical element of a significant class of cheese, known as blue cheese, is Penicillium Roqueforti. It is used to create blue veins in the cheese during its production.
- One of the most famous types of cheese is Camembert-type soft cheeses produced with the help of fungi, Penicillium camemberti.
- Fungi play a role in the production of the ripening mold.
Importance in Agriculture Sector
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Fungi are also used in the agriculture sector:
- Some fungi cause fungal diseases in plants and animals, which results in a tremendous loss.
- The benefits include muting various diseases and maintaining the fertility of the soil.
- They act as a decomposer of dead plants and animals, especially in the areas where the activity by bacteria is minimal.
Importance in Biologics
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- Conversion with the aid of enzymes
Various enzymes in fungi help convert fat carbohydrate and nitrogenous compounds into simpler substances. The simpler substances include ammonia, water, sulphide, etc.
- Acting as Decomposers
Some of the saprophytic fungi act as a decomposer of dead bodies. They aid in the decomposition, taking up their waste as complex organic compounds known as cellulose and lignin. These microbes with the bacteria lead to the recycling of matter by decomposing the dead matter of plants and excreta of animals in the soil. Therefore, the soil becomes fertile. The absence of activities of fungi can have an adverse effect by resulting in an assembly and piling of debris.
- Maintaining a level of Carbon dioxide
Saprophytic fungi help in maintaining carbon dioxide, which plays a significant role in photosynthesis.
Read More: Protozoans
Things to Remember
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- Fungi is a eukaryotic organism, which is unicellular and multicellular, possessing a cell wall made of chitin and polysaccharides.
- They have a dense, apparent nucleus and contain chromatin threads.
- From maintaining the nutrition to the carbon dioxide levels, fungi have the utmost importance.
- In the medical industry, fungi help in the preparation of antibiotics, which are used not just to cure diseases but also act as an agent to accelerate the growth in animals.
- In the agriculture sector, fungi have both negative and positive effects. It may cause various diseases but with that, but they also act as a pesticide.
- Fungi play an important role in food preparation specially preparation of blue cheese and Camembert-type cheese.
Notes on Kingdom Fungi
Fungi PDF
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Previous Year Questions
- The imperfect fungi which are decomposers of litter … (NEET 2015)
- Cell wall of fungi is composed of …
- Which of the following is an edible fungus … (BITSAT 2003)
- Identify the odd one out … (KCET 2021)
- A hyphae which is multinucleated and asptate is known as … (WBJEE 1999)
- Puccinia forms uredia and … (NEET 1998)
- The taxonomic unit phylum in the classification of animals is equivalent to which hierarchical level in classification of plants…. (UPSEE 2016)
- Cell wall is absent in…. (NEET 2015)
- Membrane-bound organelles are absent in...(NEET 2010)
- Black (stem) rust of wheat is caused by… (NEET 2010)
- A free living nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium which can also form symbiotic association with the water fern Azolla is...(NEET 2004)
- Which fungal disease spreads by seed and flowers...(NEET 2002)
- The thalloid body of a slime mould (Myxomycetes) is known as...(NEET 2006)
- There exists a close association between the alga and the fungus within a lichen. The fungus...(NEET 2005)
- After karyogamy followed by meiosis, spores are produced exogenously in...(NEET 2018)
- Archaebacteria differ from eubacteria in...(NEET 2014)
- Azotobacter and Bacillus polymyxa are the examples of...(NEET 1996)
Sample Questions
Ques. List down the main uses of bacteria in the industry. (2 marks)
Ans. The two uses of bacteria include:
- In the chemical industry: Bacteria are most important in the production of pharmaceuticals. E.coli is used in the preparation of riboflavin and vitamin K.
- In the biotechnology industry: Bacteria cells are used to produce biological substances helpful to humans, including fuels, foods, medicines, enzymes, etc.
Ques. What are antibiotics? Name any two examples. (2 marks)
Ans. An antibiotic is a medicine that inhibits the growth of microorganisms and destroys it. Alexander Fleming first invented antibiotics. They help in fighting against harmful diseases and infections. They include a range of powerful drugs. Examples - Penicillin, Kanamycin.
Ques. Describe the role of certain fungi in industrial production. (2 marks)
Ans. Fungi are used in the fermentation process and produce various nutritional elements such as glycolipids, polysaccharides, polyhydric alcohols, vitamins, etc. They are also used to create multiple enzymes, organic acids, citric acid, etc.
Ques. Which kingdom's cell wall is made of chitin? (3 marks)
Ans. Kingdom Fungi have organisms whose cell walls are made of chitin. This kingdom comprises various microorganisms, such as yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Chitin is the material found in the insect exoskeleton, from which the cell wall is carved out.
Ques. Where is mold Rhizopus most easily found? (3 marks)
Ans. Rhizopus is classified as a typical bread mold, which not only grows on bread but also on various other surfaces and organisms. The other matter includes leather, pickles, fruits, animal drugs, chapati, paper, wood, leather goods, etc. The factor that leads to their growth is humid and warm climatic conditions.
Ques. Will there be any kind of bacteria present in an aquarium? (3 marks)
Ans. Yes, bacteria are found in aquariums in the form of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. These bacteria aid in removing nitrates and ammonia from the aquarium. Bacteria are found on every hard surface of the aquarium, which includes glass, substrate, and various other decorations present.
Ques. State the importance of fungi. (5 marks)
Ans. Fungi are termed one of the most important organisms on the planet in terms of population and economic importance. They are used in various sectors:
- Food: Fungi are also essential direct sources of food for humans. Many mushrooms (Agaricus) are edible. Also, different species of them are cultivated for sale worldwide. Fungi are also widely used in the manufacturing of many food products and drinks. These food products include cheeses, beer, wine, bread, cakes, etc.
- Medicine: Fungi comprise metabolites, which have considerable commercial importance in the manufacturing of drugs. A significant antibody, Penicillin, is also produced by fungi.
- Agriculture: The benefits of fungi in the agriculture sector include muting various diseases, maintaining the fertility of the soil by acting as a decomposer of dead plants and animals, especially in the areas where the activity by bacteria is minimal, and conversion with the aid of enzymes, etc.
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