The mycelium
Yeast and some fungi are unicellular organisms, but most species are multi-cellular organisms, composed of masses of filaments known as hyphae, which altogether compose the mycelium or body of the fungus.
This structure differs according to the function that the organism has to serve. Saprobic fungi have special hyphae, called rhizoids, which anchor the mycelium to the substrate, while some parasitic fungi develop hyphae, called haustoria, which invade the cells of the host organism.
The hyphae in a mycelium grow very quickly, even more than one kilometre a day.
The mycelium can be found in different forms: in single and scattered hyphae or as a fluffy mass, sometimes in very complex forms as in the case of edible mushrooms (boletus edulis, field mushroom, honey mushroom). They have a structure composed of a stipe and a cap which surfaces above ground level, while the part accommodating the reproductive structure of the fungus is underground (you will find various examples of the structure of mushrooms on the photo album).
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From the Multimedia section
Facts
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Bread and cheese, wine or beer
Yeast is used to make wine, beer and bread. When mixed with the bread dough...
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Who lives well with low oxygen?
<i><span style="font-style: normal; " class="Apple-style-span"><i><em>Aquandriella fermentas</em> </i>lives in stagnant waters and can stand complete anaerobiosis...</span></i>
Responsible for fish-plagues
<em>Sporolegnia parasitica</em> is widely present in estuaries and fish tanks and that...
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Bacteria as Sherlock Holmes
A drop of blood, a fragment of skin or a hair found on the scene of a crime can supply…
-
Bread and cheese, wine or beer
Yeast is used to make wine, beer and bread. When mixed with the bread dough...
-
Who lives well with low oxygen?
<i><span style="font-style: normal; " class="Apple-style-span"><i><em>Aquandriella fermentas</em> </i>lives in stagnant waters and can stand complete anaerobiosis...</span></i>
Responsible for fish-plagues
<em>Sporolegnia parasitica</em> is widely present in estuaries and fish tanks and that...
-
Bread and cheese, wine or beer
Yeast is used to make wine, beer and bread. When mixed with the bread dough...