Category: Biology Second Paper Lecture Sheet

Fungi detoxify the environment by breaking down the pollutants in the environment. This process is called Bioremediation. Fungi break down waste materials and return carbon and other elements to the environment which are then used by green plants. As a result, the environment remains clean and safe for living organisms.

Fungi live as cohabitants in lichens. Lichens play an important role in weathering rocks. Crushed rock contributes to soil formation.

The role of fungi in industry is-
(i) Various species of Saccharomyces are used in making vitamin B and C in bread, cake, gheeserin etc. It is used to flavor chocolate made from cocoa beans.
(ii) Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae fungi are widely used in alcohol production.
(iii) Saccharomyces are used to produce alcohol from sugarcane, dates, palm and grapes in the fermentation process.
(iv) Penicillium camemberti and Penicillium rosqueferti are used to make sourdough cheese.
(v) Mucor rouxii is used to break down sugar to produce sugar.
(vi) Odium lactis species of fungus is used to make plastics.
(vii) Organic acids, vitamins and enzymes are produced from Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi.
(viii) Saccharomyces are widely used in bakery to make bread and cakes. That is why it is called Brewer’s yeast.

Fungi feed on dead plant and animal remains and decaying organic matter. These fungi break down complex organic compounds into simple inorganic substances. As a result, soil fertility increases. 8 inches of fertile soil can contain a ton of fungi and bacteria.

Vitamin-B is produced from Ashbya gossypii fungus, Vitamin-C from Aspergillus niger and Vitamin-D from yeast.

Yeast cake is made by cultivating Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida urtilis fungi through molasses and ammonia mixed culture. Yeast cake is rich in protein. It contains 15% meat.

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus oryzae fungi produce digetin, polyzyme and diastase enzymes.

Gibberellin hormone is obtained from the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. It promotes plant growth.

Citric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid etc. are produced from different species of Penicillium. Diastase and oxalic acid from Aspergillus niger, gibberellic acid from Gibberella fujikuroi and invertase enzyme from Saccharomyces are available.

Different types of pesticides are made from fungi. It is used for pest control. Such as Empusa sepulchralis, Isaria ferinosa, Ascherromyces deyroides.