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Fungi2 Importance

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Fungi are one of the most important groups of organisms on the planet. This is easy to overlook, given
their largely hidden, unseen actions and growth. They are important in an enormous variety of ways.
Recycling
Fungi, together with bacteria, are responsible for most of the recycling which returns dead material to
the soil in a form in which it can be reused. Without fungi, these recycling activities would be seriously
reduced. We would effectively be lost under piles many metres thick, of dead plant and animal remains.
Mycorrhizae and plant growth
Fungi are vitally important for the good growth of most plants, including crops, through the
development of mycorrhizal associations. As plants are at the base of most food chains, if their growth
was limited, all animal life, including human, would be seriously reduced through starvation.
Food
Fungi are also important directly as food for humans. Many mushrooms are edible and different
species are cultivated for sale worldwide. While this is a very small proportion of the actual food that we
eat, fungi are also widely used in the production of many foods and drinks. These include cheeses, beer
and wine, bread, some cakes, and some soya bean products.
While a great many wild fungi are edible, it can be difficult to correctly identify them. Some
mushrooms are deadly if they are eaten. Fungi with names such as 'Destroying Angel' and 'Death Cap'
give us some indication that it would not be a terribly good idea to eat them! In some countries,
collecting wild mushrooms to eat is a popular activity. It is always wise to be totally sure that what you
have collected is edible and not a poisonous look-a-like.

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1 Surname Student’s Name Course Date Fungi are one of the most important groups of organisms on the planet. This is easy to overlook, given their largely hidden, unseen actions and growth. They are important in an enormous variety of ways. Recycling Fungi, together with bacteria, are responsible ...
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