Ustilaginomycetes

//Ustilaginomycetes//

Do you want to know which fungus has over 1400 types of itself and over 70 groups of this fungus? Do you want to learn about a dangerous fungus that causes over 8 million dollars of losses to the US every year? Than come on over to the ustilaginomycetes (A.K.A. the smut fungus) exhibit today! The smut fungus belongs to the Kingdom Fungi. There are many varied characteristics of the Kingdom Fungi. One thing is that the organisms are all multicellular and have a cell wall. A fungus is a eukaryotic organism that absorbs energy from other organisms. A fungus also reproduces using spores. The smut fungus, also known as the “Mexican Truffle” or as “The Maize Mushroom,” is a parasite that causes on average over eight million dollars in agricultural losses every year. If the conditions are right for the fungus, the smut can take over almost 80% of a field of grain. One of the few plants that this fungus has not been reported to be living on is the orchid flower, despite that the fact that that there are over 1400 species of this flower. Only two known species live on lycophytes, a plant that produces spores. One of the species lives on ferns, the other lives on conifers. The smut fungus terrorizes all to species of plants that get in its way.



Nick and Andrew Pd.4