Characteristics of Fungi

 Following are the important characteristics of fungi:

1. Fungi are eukaryotic, non-vascular, non-motile and heterotrophic organisms.
2. They may be unicellular or filamentous.
3. They reproduce by means of spores.
4. Fungi exhibit the phenomenon of alternation of generation.
5. Fungi lack chlorophyll and hence cannot perform photosynthesis.
6. Fungi store their food in the form of starch.
7. Biosynthesis of chitin occurs in fungi.
8. The nuclei of the fungi are very small.
9. The fungi have no embryonic stage. They develop from the spores.
10. The mode of reproduction is sexual or asexual.
11. Some fungi are parasitic and can infect the host.
12. Fungi produce a chemical called pheromone which leads to sexual reproduction in fungi.
13. Examples include mushrooms, moulds and yeast.