Fungal structure and fungal components
Synopsis
Each fungal cell bound by a rigid cell wall contains chitin, glucan, and or cellulose. Fungal cell walls are made up of approximately 80% polysaccharides, 3-20% protein, lipids, pigments and inorgnic salts. The structural components consist primarily of chitin, beta and alpha glucals, glycoproteins, lipids, pigments and inorganic salts. Mycologists divided the fungi into two groups
the macroscopic fungi (mushrooms, puffballs, gill fungi) and microscopic fungi (mold and yeast). Molds-multicellular filamentuous fungi characterized by hyphae and mycelium. There are some fungal-like agents for example Prototheca and Pythium species which have been traditionally discussed in the category of fungi due to their resemblance with fungi. The terms yeast and mold are not mutually exclusive since many fungi are molds in their normal saprphytic growth but are yeast like under modified growth conditions in animal tissues. Fungi whose predominant form is yeast or yeast like may exhibit mold like structures when grown under appropriate conditions.