Fungi have a lot of economic importance as they bring about the activities of fermentation. This simple yet extremely useful biological process is responsible for the formation of a number of products such as bread, wine and beer. There are several other important functions that can be carried out by a fungus. Recycling is a very essential activity. Fungi along with bacteria in the soil cause the decomposition of decaying materials. The dead matter is converted into a form that is easy to integrate with the soil. Without fungi, the world would have been covered under several meters of dead organic matter.
Fungi are also important for the growth of certain plants. Fungi such as mycorrhizae are present in the roots of some plants. They help in the plants absorbing water and many other minerals from the soil. Fungi are directly a form of food. Mushroom is a fungus that is a worldwide favorite. Apart from mushroom, there are many other mushrooms that can be eaten. Fungi are used in the production of cheeses, cakes and even some soybean products. This make mushrooms a very important part of food processing. There are however, a few poisonous mushrooms that resemble the edible ones.
Fungi are also used in the manufacturing of medicines. The fungus, Penicillium is used in the production of one of the world’s most prominent drugs namely penicillin. Many other fungi are used in the production of antibiotics that are globally used to combat diseases in animals as well as humans. Fungi that feed on caterpillars are used as medicines. Some chemical compounds that are isolated from fungi are useful in the treatment of cancer. A fungus that causes the Ergot disease in Rye crops occurs on grasses. It produces small hard structures called as sclerotia which are poisonous when consumed. However, it yields a very useful drug that is used during the course of childbirth.
Certain fungi feed on pests and can be used for controlling the population. The spores of these fungi can be sprayed on the crop pests as a method to reduce their population. Fungi can be used to bring down the numbers of leaf hoppers, citrus rust mites and spittlebugs. This is a very cheap method and does not involve the application of chemicals at all. Fungal parasites can be used even in biocontrol but one must be careful as they may be even plant parasites. Fungi play a role even in food spoiling. Bread moulds are a perfect example. Fungi are one of the most useful organisms and their effectiveness depends chiefly on the way they are used.
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