The 11 types of fungi (and their characteristics).

A classification of these living beings according to their characteristics and their effects on us.

When we think of living things, most people tend to think immediately of animals and plants. This is logical, since they are two of the types of living beings that we can directly contact most often. But the truth is that the animal and plant kingdoms are not the only ones that exist: there are also the monera kingdom (to which bacteria belong), the protista or protoctista kingdom (in which we find various protozoa) and the fungi kingdom.

As far as the latter kingdom is concerned, the first image that usually comes to mind is that of a mushroom, but the truth is that there are a large number of different types of fungi. there are a great number of types of fungi (not in vain, we are in front of one of the five great groups of living beings). In this article we are going to see some of the best known ones.

What is a fungus?

We call a fungus the exponent of one of the five existing kingdoms of living beings.It is characterized by being constituted by eukaryotic cells (that is to say that they possess a nucleus in which the DNA is found) with a cell wall composed mainly of chitin and by its way of feeding, through absorption but heterotrophic.

This last term, heterotrophic, indicates that fungi, like animals, depend on the transformation of external organic matter into energy in order to survive. In other words, they need to consume matter coming from or belonging to other living beings.

In fact, in this sense fungi are very important at the ecological level since these beings are considered as one of the main decomposers of dead matter, being their contribution fundamental for the maintenance of the ecosystem.

Fungi is certainly an extensive kingdom, with an enormous variety of species and varieties. It is for this reason that There are a great variety of possible classifications into which these forms of life can be these forms of life, among which we are going to see several.

1. Types of fungi according to their basic forms

One of the quickest and easiest classifications to make is linked to the fact that as a general rule we can find three main forms. This is a very simple classification that leaves aside the enormous diversity that we can find, but it is effective. In this sense we can find three main types.

1.1. Mushrooms

This is the most prototypical type of mushroom for most people. In fact, the term does not refer to the whole being but to one of its parts: the most external part, corresponding to its fructification, which is usually in the form of an umbrella or hat. usually has the shape of an umbrella or hat..

The rest of the fungus would be found underground (or under the surface where it is growing). Thus, technically we could differentiate between mushroom and fungus in the sense that the mushroom is only a part of a certain type of fungus. It is important to keep in mind that not all of them are edibleMany species can be poisonous and even deadly for us.

1.2. Yeasts

Fungi classified within the yeast group are characterized by the way they decompose matter, this mechanism being fermentation (although not only fungi can use it).

Carbohydrates and sugars are transformed into other elements, something that humans have used for millennia. in processes such as bread making or confectionery.. They are also characterized by being a type of unicellular fungus.

1.3. Molds

Molds are a type of fungus generally of microscopic size that are characterized by a behavior that is usually destructive, damaging surfaces or living beings. They are usually made up of masses of filaments. However, this does not this does not mean that they are always negativeHowever, this does not mean that they are always negative, since in some cases they have been used to generate medicines (the clearest example being penicillin).

2. Classification according to their effect on humans

Another simple way of classifying fungi has less to do with the fungus itself than with the effects they can have on us or the usefulness we can give them. Although in this sense the classification is not so much by the entity itself but by its effects, this way of classifying them can be beneficial in terms of being able to separate those that have positive and those that have negative effects. Among these types we can find the following.

2.1. Edible mushrooms

One of the groups that generally tends to interest the majority of the population is that of edible mushrooms, those that are suitable for human (or animal) consumption. Most of them are very healthyThey are low in calories and high in protein and vitamins. In fact, some of them are considered delicatessen, as is the case with the truffle in this country.

2.2. Toxic

In contrast to the previous one, we can also find different mushrooms whose properties can deteriorate our health and capacities to a great extent, or even in some cases cause our death. Unfortunately, some of them resemble edible species, which poses an enormous danger for those who are not able to recognize them.

2.3. Medicinal

Many fungi have different properties that have made them extremely important for human beings, not only because they are edible or not, but also because they can produce effects that can eliminate or control diseases. This is what happened when Alexander Fleming discovered that the Penicillium mold was capable of killing bacteria. was capable of killing bacteriaThis led to the synthesis of penicillin.

2.4. Parasites

Some fungi also have a parasitic behavior, feeding on tissues of living beings.

This is the type of fungus that usually causes diseases, often dermatological, but which can also occur in other tissues. but which can also occur in other tissues such as the mouth or vagina and even generate severe infections. Fungi of the Candida family are an example of this.

Another example are fungi of the genus cordycepssome species of which can even provoke suicidal behavior in insects such as ants (causing them to climb the leaves of a plant and bite it before dying to serve as food and allow the spores to spread).

2.5. Hallucinogens or psychoactives

Many mushrooms have been used since ancient times for their capacity to generate altered states of consciousness. In some contexts they were used in religious rituals, although nowadays it is more common for them to be used as hallucinogens.However, nowadays it is more frequent that the consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms is done in a recreational context.

But not only that, but in many cases mushrooms with these properties are being studied in order to analyze possible uses in the treatment of mental or even organic disorders.

In this type of mushrooms, the following mushroom genus stands out PsilocybeThe representatives of which contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin, one of the most consumed hallucinogenic drugs.

3. Ecological classification

Another way to classify the diverse mushrooms is through their way of surviving and feeding, of their function or role at the ecological level in relation to their relationship with the rest of beings.. In this sense we can find three large groups.

3. 1. Saprophytic Fungi

This type of fungi are characterized by basing their subsistence on the fact that they feed on the remains of living beings through external digestion, carried out outside the cells of the fungus. This is one of the most relevant groups when it comes to decomposing the organic matter of corpses and feces and when it comes to allowing the soil to remain fertile.

Some of them only receive nutrients in this way, while other fungi only resort to this type of nutrition during one phase of their development.

3.2. Parasitic fungi

As we have seen above, parasitic fungi are those that base their subsistence on the their subsistence is based on the dependence on a host or carrier, which can bewhich can be harmed to a lesser or greater extent by the existence of its host and for which the existence of the fungus does not represent any kind of advantage.

3.3. Symbiotic fungi

This type of fungi is characterized by its dependence on a subject or host, although the relationship with it is positive and beneficial for both organisms. For example, it is possible that the interaction between the two may allow the two organisms to feed on each other.. Within this type of fungi we can find different subtypes.

Perhaps the best known and most common case is that of mycorrhizae, in which a fungus establishes a symbiotic relationship with the roots of a plant. While the fungus feeds on the plant's carbohydrates and vitamins, the plant obtains minerals and water from the fungus.

Another well-known example is lichens, which arise from the symbiotic interaction between a fungus and an algae.. In this relationship, the fungus serves as protection for the algae that prevents environmental conditions and sunlight from drying out the algae, while the algae carry out photosynthesis, allowing the fungus to survive thanks to the energy provided by the fungus.

Bibliographical references:

• Hawksworth D.L.; Lücking, R. (2017). Fungal Diversity Revisited: 2.2 to 3.8 Million Species. The Fungal Kingdom. Microbiology Spectrum, 5: pp. 79 - 95.
• Kurtzman C.P. (1994). Molecular taxonomy of the yeasts, Yeast, 10(13): pp. 1727 - 1740.
• Linder M.B.; Szilvay G.R.; Nakari-Setälä T.; Penttilä M.E. (2005). Hydrophobins: the protein-amphiphiles of filamentous fungi. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 29(5): pp. 877 - 896.