This post is all about plant fungus types.
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that play a critical role in the health and survival of plants. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the microscopic, single-celled yeasts to the giant mushrooms that sprout up in the forest.
Fungi can be broadly classified into several groups: yeasts, molds, mushrooms, lichens, mycorrhizae, and pathogenic fungi.
Each group has its own unique characteristics and functions, and they all play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.
In this article, we will explore the different types of plant fungus and learn about their unique characteristics and functions, including their role in decomposition, mutualistic relationships, and plant diseases.
35 Plant Fungus Types
1. Mycorrhizal Fungi
One of the most important types of plant fungus is mycorrhizal fungi.
These fungi form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of plants, in which the fungus receives carbohydrates from the plant, and the plant receives essential nutrients and water from the fungus.
The mycelium of mycorrhizal fungi can extend for several meters, providing plants with access to a much larger area of soil than their roots alone could reach.
This relationship is critical for the survival of many plant species, especially in nutrient-poor soils.
2. Lichens
Another important type of plant fungus is lichens. These are symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium.
The fungus provides the structure and protection for the lichen while the alga or cyanobacterium photosynthesizes and provides food for both partners.
Lichens are incredibly hardy and can survive in harsh environments such as deserts, tundra, and even in the Arctic.
They are also incredibly diverse and can be found in a wide range of colors and forms.
3. Pathogenic Fungi
While most fungi play an important role in the health and survival of plants, some fungi can be harmful.
These are known as pathogenic fungi, and they can cause serious diseases in plants. Some of the most common pathogenic fungi include powdery mildew, rust, and blight.
These fungi can cause significant damage to crops, leading to reduced yields and even complete crop failure.
4. Ascomycetes
This group of fungi includes yeasts, molds, and the fungi that produce the characteristic fruiting bodies of the morels and truffles.
Ascomycetes are known for their unique sexual reproduction process, in which they produce a characteristic structure called an ascus that contains ascospores.
They are also known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants, such as lichens and mycorrhizae.
Some of the most well-known Ascomycetes include Penicillium, Saccharomyces, and Morchella.
5. Basidiomycetes
This group of fungi includes mushrooms, bracket fungi, and puffballs. Basidiomycetes are known for their characteristic sexual reproduction process, in which they produce a structure called a basidium that contains basidiospores.
They are also known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants, such as mycorrhizae.
Some of the most well-known Basidiomycetes include Agaricus, Amanita, and Pleurotus.
6. Zygomycetes
This group of fungi includes bread molds and the fungus that causes black root rot of plants.
Zygomycetes reproduce through a process called zygospore formation and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants, such as mycorrhizae.
Some of the most well-known Zygomycetes include Rhizopus and Mucor.
7. Deuteromycetes
This group of fungi, also known as Fungi Imperfecti, lack a sexual reproductive stage and reproduces only asexually.
They are known for their ability to cause diseases in plants, animals, and humans. Some of the most well-known Deuteromycetes include Fusarium and Alternaria.
8. Chytridiomycetes
This group of fungi includes aquatic fungi that play an important role in the decomposition of dead plant material in freshwater and marine environments.
They reproduce through a process called zoospore formation, and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
Some of the most well-known Chytridiomycetes include Allomyces and Batrachochytrium.
9. Oomycetes
This group of fungi, also known as water molds, are known for causing diseases in plants and animals such as downy mildew and sudden oak death.
They reproduce through a process called oospore formation and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
Some of the most well-known Oomycetes include Phytophthora and Pythium.
10. Glomeromycetes
This group of fungi form arbuscular mycorrhizae, a type of symbiotic relationship with the roots of plants.
They reproduce through a process called zygospore formation, and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
Some of the most well-known Glomeromycetes include Glomus and Scutellospora.
11. Hyphomycetes
This group of fungi includes the filamentous fungi that colonize dead plant material and can be found in soil, on plant surfaces, and in the air.
They reproduce through a process called conidiospore formation, and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
Some of the most well-known Hyphomycetes include Cladosporium and Botrytis.
12. Sordariomycetes
This group of fungi includes species that are known for causing diseases in plants and animals, such as Fusarium and Sclerotinia.
They are known for their diverse and complex life cycles and are important pathogens in many crop systems.
They reproduce through a process called ascospore formation and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
13. Leotiomycetes
This group of fungi includes species that are known for causing diseases in plants and animals, such as Botrytis and Sclerotinia.
They are known for their diverse and complex life cycles and are important pathogens in many crop systems.
They reproduce through a process called ascospore formation and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
14. Pezizmycetes
This group of fungi includes species that produce cup-shaped fruiting bodies such as morels and truffles.
They reproduce through a process called ascospore formation and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
Some of the most well-known Pezizomycetes include Morchella and Tuber.
15. Pezizmycetes
This group of fungi includes species that produce mushroom-like fruiting bodies such as Agaricus and Amanita.
They reproduce through a process called basidiospore formation and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
They are also known for their diverse and complex life cycles and are important pathogens in many crop systems.
16. Gasteromycetes
This group of fungi includes species that produce puffballs, stinkhorns and bird's nest fungi.
They reproduce through a process called basidiospore formation and are known for their ability to form mutualistic relationships with plants.
They are also known for their diverse and complex life cycles and are important pathogens in many crop systems.
17. Entomopathogenic
These fungi infect and kill insects and are used in biological pest control. Examples include Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae.
These fungi are known to infect insects by penetrating their cuticle and colonizing the internal organs, causing death within a few days.
These fungi are widely used as a biological control agent against a wide range of insect pests, including mosquitoes, termites, and beetles.
They can be applied as spores, mycelium or conidia, and can be used in conjunction with other control methods to improve efficacy.
18. Aquatic Fungi
These fungi live and thrive in aquatic environments and play an important role in the decomposition of dead plant material.
Examples include Achlya and Aphanomyces.
These fungi are known to colonize submerged plant material and decompose it, breaking down complex organic compounds and releasing essential nutrients back into the water.
They are also known to play a critical role in the cycling of carbon and other important elements in aquatic ecosystems.
19. Endophytic
These fungi live within the tissues of plants without causing any harm and can have a mutualistic or commensalistic relationship with the host plant.
Examples include Fusarium and Colletotrichum. These fungi are known to colonize the internal tissues of plants, including leaves, stems, and roots, without causing any visible symptoms of disease.