Economic importance includes
useful as well as harmful aspects of the fungi. The graph represents outline of
the economic importance of the fungi.
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| Outline of the Economic Importance of Fungi |
Advantages of Fungi
1. Primary agents of Decay
Biomass production in forest is controlled
by wood rotting fungi. If fungi (and bacteria) were not present, there would be
heaps of dead organic matter on face of Earth. Fungi are able to digest
cellulose and lignin (major components of plant cell walls) to simpler organic
matter. For example, Ganoderma and Armillaria.
2. Medicinal Purposes
Fungi are important source of
antibiotics (= against bacteria). For example, Penicillin is extracted from Penicillium
chrysogenum. Cephaloporins are antibiotics extracted from Cephalosporium
acremonium. Ganoderma lucidum and Fomitopsis officinalis are
used in herbal medicines since ancient times.
3. Used as Food
Many mushrooms have been grown
since ancient times to use as food. These can be easily grown on waste
materials like, manure, wheat and rice straw, tobacco stems and sawdust. For
example, Agaricus brunnescens is commonly called meadow mushroom. It is
a rich source of nutrition compared to all vegetables except spinach and
soybeans. Tricholoma magnivelare is called pine mushroom. Proteins
called Mycoproteins are also harvested from some fungi and used in food
industry.
4. Baking and Brewing Industries
Both these industries depend
largely upon Saccharoymyces cerevisiae. Saccharoymyces cerevisiae
converts glucose to ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. In making of dessert
wines, grapes are left in the field to be infected with Botrytis cinerea
(the noble rot) which increases the sweetness of grapes.
5. Mutualistic Associations
a) Mycorrhizae are the
mutualistic association of fungi with the roots of higher plants. This
association increases the ability of the plants to absorb some nutrients and
minerals which cannot be absorbed by plant roots.
b) Lichens are the
association of fungi with algae. This association is so useful in colonizing
the bare rock surfaces where there would be no life possible otherwise.
c) Mutualistic associations of
wood rotting fungi with arthropods. The insect cultivate the enzymes
secreted by fungi (cellulase etc.) and the insects ensure dispersal of fungi.
6. Biological control of Insects and Arthropods
Insects and arthropods are sometimes
very disastrous for crops and human populations. In this regard, parasitic
fungi of these insects can be used for biological control of these insects. There
are species of fungi that attack specific cicadas, flies, beetles, mosquitoes,
wasps, mites, spiders and even honeybees.
Disadvantages of Fungi
1. Decay of Wooden Material
Fungi not only decay dead organic
mass in the forests but they also decay other wooden materials such as wooden
poles, furniture and wooden ships. Fungi are also responsible for rots and
decay of fresh food stuff.
2. Diseases in Humans
Aspergillosis is very common
disease due to Aspergillus sp. Spores
or Aspergillus are air-borne and cause this disease of lungs. Similarly,
athletes’ foot, meningitis and allergic responses due to inhalation of fungal
spores in air are also fungal borne disease. Dandruff in hair is also due to
fungi.
3. Mycotoxins
Fungi not only decay and rot the
food material, grains and standing crops. They also secrete enzymes called
Mycotoxins (Myco = Fungi). These mycotoxins are harmful for human health
and if their level exceeds certain limits (=threshold), then consumption of
such food stuff can even lead to disease and death. Exports of rice are
affected by these one of these mycotoxins called Alfatoxins.
4. Plant Diseases
Plant Pathology
is the discipline of science which is concerned with the study of disease in
plants, its control and management. About 80% of plant diseases are caused
by fungi. These include bitter examples of death and famine due to fungal
disease. For example, Irish potato famine due to late blight of Potato (caused
by Phythophthora infestans), Dutch elm disease, rust and smut disease of
wheat and many more diseases of plants.
5. Animal Diseases
Fungi are also harmful to the
animal and cattle which graze from the contaminated sources.
6. Spoilage
Fungi sometimes are parasitic to
other fungi. For example, many fungi are pathogenic to edible mushrooms. Contamination
of fermentation process of alcohols and bakery products can cause serious
health issues for human which will consume that food material.
