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Of economic importance is Physoderma maydis, a parasite of maize and the causal agent of brown spot disease. [5] Also of importance are the species of Urophlyctis that parasitize alfalfa . [ 8 ] However, ecologically, Physoderma are important parasites of many aquatic and marsh angiosperms . [ 4 ]
Fungi have appeared, too, from time to time, in literature and art. Fungi create harm by spoiling food, destroying timber, and by causing diseases of crops, livestock, and humans. Fungi, mainly moulds like Penicillium and Aspergillus, spoil many stored foods. Fungi cause the majority of plant diseases, which in turn cause serious economic losses.
The English word fungus is directly adopted from the Latin fungus (mushroom), used in the writings of Horace and Pliny. [10] This in turn is derived from the Greek word sphongos (σφόγγος 'sponge'), which refers to the macroscopic structures and morphology of mushrooms and molds; [11] the root is also used in other languages, such as the German Schwamm ('sponge') and Schimmel ('mold').
An important ecosystem function associated with biodiversity is pest control. [23] Control species can suppress pest populations and reduce loss of crop yields without the negative impacts of chemical pesticides. [24] This has economic benefits and maintaining natural pest control is important to humanity's ability to grow crops. [25]
Albugo is a genus of plant-parasitic oomycetes.Those are not true fungi (), although many discussions of this organism still treat it as a fungus.The taxonomy of this genus is incomplete, but several species are plant pathogens.
Those of economic importance include several important pathogens of trees and a few species that cause damage by rotting structural timber. Some of the Polyporales are commercially cultivated and marketed for use as food items or in traditional Chinese medicine .
Members of the Ascomycota form two important types of relationship with plants: as mycorrhizal fungi and as endophytes. Mycorrhiza are symbiotic associations of fungi with the root systems of the plants, which can be of vital importance for growth and persistence for the plant. The fine mycelial network of the fungus enables the increased ...
Microfungi can be harmful, causing diseases of plants, animals and humans with varying degrees of severity and economic impact. The irritating human skin disease known as athlete's foot or tinea pedis is caused by species of the microfungal genus Trichophyton. Microfungi may cause diseases of crops and trees which range in severity from mild to ...