Fungal diversity

Abstract

‘Fungal diversity’ considers three species that illustrate the spectacular range of structural complexity found among fungi: Olpidium brassicae, Spirodactylon aureum, and Sphaerobolus stellatus. There are more than 70,000 species of fungi described by mycologists and over 90% of them are classified within Phylum Basidiomycota (basidiomycetes) and Phylum Ascomycota (ascomycetes). Half of the basidiomycetes produce mushrooms; the others include rusts and smuts that cause plant disease. The ascomycetes include the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, fungi with beautiful cup-shaped fruit bodies, truffles, and morels. The other major groups of fungi are less well known and include species whose cells swim in water.