Mention the characteristics of fungi.

Explanation

Characteristics of fungi are:
- They are non-photosynthetic. The mode of nutrition is heterotrophic. Most of them are saprophytes as they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. Some of them are parasitic.
- Most fungi are multicellular, except yeast, which is the only unicellular fungus.
- The body of multicellular filamentous fungus is called mycelium, which is composed of several thread-like structures called hyphae.
- Some fungi live in symbiotic(mutually dependent) relationships with blue-green algae as in lichens. Examples: Mucor, Aspergillus.
- Fungi have two distinct phases. Vegetative and reproductive. Vegetative phase is concerned with assimilation of food. Reproductive phase is concerned with reproduction. Asexual reproduction mainly occurs by spores and sexual reproduction occurs by fusion of gametes.