Fungus, plurally known as fungi are eukaryotic organisms; i.e., their cells contain membrane-bound organelles and clearly defined nuclei and were formerly classified as plants but because of their lack of chlorophyll and are distinguished by both their structures and physiological features, they have been isolated from the plant kingdom.
Their mode of growth and nutrient intake also distinguish them from other living organisms (they grow from the tips of filaments that make up the bodies of the mycelia organisms and they digest organic matter externally before absorbing it into their mycelia. While they are popularly known for their harm causing potentials for deleterious diseases and causing damages to crops, these nonmotile organisms, however plays some very important roles for both humans and the ecosytem. The beneficial role they play will be discussed in this article and how much salutary benefits these organisms confer upon us.
Ecological benefits
Known for their undiscrimination of food, fungus are the prime decomposers of dead organic matter including soil, dead matter and wood and dung. They are the recycling company of nature, recycling aboit more than 85 percent of the carbon from dead organic matter and release the locked-up nutrients so they can be used by other organisms. If it were not for these organisms, everywhere would be filled with litters and dead matter and wood from centuries and centuries ago. There are a very few organic matters that these organisms cannot decompose as in the case of the California Redwood trees which can endure for years and years without being susceptible to fungi decomposition. These ability to decompose almost anything at all makes the fungi one of the most vital agent for ongoing health in the ecosystem.
Fungus as Food
Saccharomyces cerevisae, a yeast used in making alcohol and carbon dioxide uses the fermentation process to break down sugars. In many beer industries, cereal grains are fermented to make the final product.
Aspergillus oryzae is also a fungus used in the production of sake through the fermentation of rice and yeast. Most interestingly, the application of fungi in the food industry is most observed in Asia where a wide variety of interesting fermented foods, sauces and drinks are developed using fungi. Even cheese is inoculated with a fungus called Penicillium roquefortii to impart a strong and pungent flavour.
Blue Stilton cheese, showing the blue-green mold veins produced by Penicillium roqueforti, CC BY-SA 3.0, image link
Button mushrooms and Portobello mushrooms are commonly used in salads and soups and most mushrooms are known to posses a high vitamin D content.
Fungus as medicine
Being able to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, Fungi is most famous for its medicinal advantages as it was perphaps the most essential component of the penicillin which was produced from the Penicillium fungi.
The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine (which reduces the risk of rejection after organ transplant), the precursors of steroid hormones, and ergot alkaloids used to stop bleeding are all derived from fungi. Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus griseus, which are soil-borne fungi have been used to produce secondary metabolites statins that have been used to reduce or remove low-density lipoproteins from blood vessels in humans. Statins act on an enzyme in the liver that makes cholesterol. By blocking the enzyme, the body removes cholesterol complexes from the inside of blood vessels. This has the effect of reducing or removing blockages in arteries, and thereby reducing the chance of a heart attack, strokes and diabetes. Even Griseofulvin, a chemical produced by Penicillium griseofulvum is the only antifungal agent extracted from fungi. It is fungistatic agent that inhibits the growth of other fungus, and is applied in the treatment of various dermatological diseases.
Fungus as a Bio control Agent
The Chinese caterpillar fungus is a fundamental parisite to crop harming insects and is used for controlling the spread of pests on crops. And what is most interesting is the cheapness of this method and its ecological benefits when compared to chemical pesticide. Such applications is seen in the control of Colorado potato beetles, which can devastate potato crops. Spittlebugs, leaf hoppers and citrus rust mites are some of the other insect pests which have been controlled using fungi.
There might also be numerous application of these organisms which remains imperceptible to us. But for the meantime, it is serving a purpose to both us and the environment. Even the moulds on a piece of bread is a proof of a fungus in action, destroying, absorbing and recycling back into the ecosystem. Granted, there are also some disadvantages but, these can be curbed to a barest minimum thereby creating room for us to explore and enjoy the benefits of these organisms.