How is the mushroom cell arranged?

For a very long time, ancient scientists mistakenly classified mushrooms in the same group as plants. And this was done only because of their external similarity. After all, mushrooms, like plants, can not move. And at first sight they are not at all like animals. However, as soon as scientists were able to examine the cells, they found that the fungal cell is much like an animal cell. Therefore, these living organisms no longer belong to plants. However, they can not be attributed to animals, since the fungal cell, in addition to similarities, also has a number of differences from the animal. In connection with this, the mushrooms were separated into a separate kingdom. Thus, in nature, there are five realms of living organisms: animals, plants, fungi, bacteria and viruses.

The main features of the fungal cell

Mushrooms belong to eukaryotes. These are living organisms in which the nucleus is present in the cells. It is necessary in order to protect genetic information recorded on DNA. Eukaryotes, in addition to fungi, are animals and plants.

There are both unicellular fungi, and multicellular.

The fungal cell, like all eukaryotic cells, consists of three parts: the plasma membrane, the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Organoids and inclusions are found in the latter. Organoids are permanent. They perform certain functions in the cell. The inclusions are unstable. They basically perform a backup function. They do not have such a complex structure as organoids. Basically, these are simply drops or crystals of nutrients that the fungal cell can use if necessary.

What is the cell of the fungus like a plant cell?

The main similarity is that the structure of the fungal cell provides for the presence of a cell wall over the plasma membrane. Such formation is not characteristic of animal cells, but in plants it is also present. However, in flora, the cell wall is built from cellulose, and in mushrooms it consists of chitin.

Similarities of the fungal and animal cells

The main feature that makes the structure of a fungal cell similar to an animal is the presence of inclusions from glycogen. Unlike plants that store starch, fungi, like animals, store glycogen.

Another similar feature is the way the cells are fed. Mushrooms are heterotrophs, that is, they receive ready-made organic substances from outside. Plants are autotrophs. They are photosynthesized, receiving nutrients themselves.

Organoids

The fungal cell, which can be seen below, has such organelles as mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, cell center and Golgi complex. In addition, the vacuole can be present in the old fungal cell. All the organelles listed above perform their functions. Consider them in a short plate.

Unlike plants, mushroom cells do not contain plastids. In plants, these organoids are responsible for photosynthesis (chloroplasts) and the color of the petals (chromoplasts). Also, fungi differ from plants in that in their case only the old cell has a vacuole. Vegetative cells also possess this organoid throughout the life cycle.

The nucleus of mushrooms

Since they are eukaryotes, each cell contains a nucleus. It is designed to protect genetic information recorded on DNA, as well as to coordinate all processes occurring in the cell.

This structure has a nuclear membrane, in which there are special pores consisting of special proteins - nucleoprions. Thanks to the pores, the nucleus can exchange substances with the cytoplasm.

The medium that is inside the membrane is called karyoplasm. It contains DNA in the form of chromosomes.

Unlike plants and animals, whose cells usually contain one core (with the exception, for example, of multinucleated muscle cells or non-nuclear platelets), the fungal cell often has not one but two or more nuclei.

Conclusion - a variety of mushrooms

So, when we have already figured out how the cell of these organisms is arranged, let's consider in a few words their varieties.

First of all, there are unicellular and multicellular fungi. Among the unicellular, yeast is the most well-known and widely used human being. In addition, there are a number of unicellular fungi that parasitize other organisms, thereby causing a variety of diseases, such as powdery mildew in plants or ringworm in animals.

Multicellular fungi, depending on the structure, are divided into such classes: basidiomycetes, ascomycetes, oomycetes, zygomycetes and chitridiomycetes.