SUBJECT

Physiology of fungi

lecture

master

Faculty of Science

Biology MSc

2

Semester 3

Autumn semester

1. The chemistry of the mycelium. Specific fungal metabolites. Properties of the fungal DNA (nuclear and extrachromosomal DNA, plasmids). Regulation of the replication and transcription.

2. Primary metabolism and special aspects (aerobe and anaerobe respiration, cyanide resistant respiration, primary biosynthesis). C, N and P metabolism in fungi.

3. The polysaccharides of fungi. The biosynthesis of trehalose, plant and fungal trehalases, TPS transformation.

4. Secondary metabolism. The specific secondary metabolites of fungi. Synthesis of micotoxins, pigments, antibiotics and other medicinal substances.

5. Regulation of metabolism and division. Internal and external regulatory factors. Signals and signal transduction pathways.

6. Cell growth at the hyphal apex (Spitzenkörper) of higher fungi and the synthesis of the cell wall. Structure, growth and differentiation of the mycelium. Trophic growth, nutrient uptake, transport, translocation.

7. The kilotroph nutrition. Digestion processes of fungi. Induction and classification of extramycelial enzymes.

8. Effect of the environment (temperature, pH, humidity, light, nutrients) on growth and differentiation. Termophil and psichrophil fungi.

9. Physiology of the sexual and asexula reproduction. Genetic and hormonal regulation of the vegetative – reproductive transition. Sexpheromons in fungi. Mating and meiosis. Induction of primordium and fruit body formation (hormons and )

10. Process of spore formation. Dormancy of spores. Induction and environmental conditions of spore germination. Csírázásgátló anyagok

11. The most important biodegradation processes of fungi. I. Enzymes of the cellulase complex, induction, intermediers, process and regulation of the cellulose decomposition. The brown rot fungi. Industrial production of cellulases.

12. The most important biodegradation processes of fungi. II. Lignin decomposition, enzymes (lignin peroxidase,, laccase, tyrosinases, phenoloxidase), relationships between structure and function. Enzymes of the white rot fungi. Delignification with industrial and biological methods.

13. Stress physiology of fungi and the role of phytopathogen fungi in plant diseases. Parasitism and biocontrol.

14. Physiological bases of culturing fungi. Trophophase and idiophase. Two-step fermentation, solid and liquid phase cultures, composting.

• Text and figures on CD and homepage: kittin.web.elte.hu: Physiology of fungi recommended: Michael J. Carlile: The Fungi (Academic Press 2001)

• Hawksworth, D.L. ed Frontiers in Mycology (1990)