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This relationship is supported by a number of observed differences between the characteristics of oomycetes and fungi. For instance, the cell walls of oomycetes are composed of cellulose rather than chitin [12] and generally do not have septations. Also, in the vegetative state they have diploid nuclei, whereas fungi have haploid nuclei.
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').
Zoopagomycotina are microscopic and are typically obligate parasites of other zygomycete fungi and of microscopic soil animals such as nematodes, rotifers and amoebae. [3] Some species are endoparasites that live mostly within the bodies of their hosts and only exit the host when they are producing spores .
Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium spp. successfully infect susceptible host populations through conidia. [24] [25] The signaling cues between these fungi and their host targets are under investigation. The ability to sense these parasites can increase fitness for the host targets.
The differences between fungi and other organisms regarded as plants had long been recognised by some; Haeckel had moved the fungi out of Plantae into Protista after his original classification, [8] but was largely ignored in this separation by scientists of his time. Robert Whittaker recognized an additional kingdom for the Fungi. [11]
Helminths of importance in the sanitation field are the human parasites, and are classified as Nemathelminthes (nematodes) and Platyhelminthes, depending on whether they possess a round or flattened body, respectively. [8] Ringworm (dermatophytosis) is actually caused by various fungi, and not by a parasitic worm. [11] [12]
Many mycoparasites are fungi, though not all fungicolous fungi are parasites (some are commensals or saprobes. [2]) Biotrophic mycoparasites acquire nutrients from living host cells. Necrotrophic mycoparasites rely on dead host cells, which they might first kill with toxins or enzymes (saprophytic growth). [2] [3]
Animals and fungi are also more closely related to amoebas than to plants, and plants are more closely related to the SAR supergroup of protists than to animals or fungi. [citation needed] Animals and fungi are both heterotrophs, unlike plants, and while fungi are sessile like plants, there are also sessile animals.