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==Introduction==
==Introduction==
Fungi are widely distributed throughout the environment and are eukaryotic non-photosynthetic heterotrophs that produce exoenzymes and obtain nutrients by absorption. Moulds and yeast represent the two main morphological types of fungi with multicellular moulds forming branching filaments called hyphae and unicellular yeasts having an oval or spherical appearence. Fungi grow aerobically and most are strict aerobes. Fungal reproduction can either be sexual or asexual and in some species both types can occur. Fungi are able to tolerate high osmotic pressures and acidic environments as low as pH 5.
Fungi are widely distributed throughout the environment and are eukaryotic non-photosynthetic heterotrophs that produce exoenzymes and obtain nutrients by absorption. Moulds and yeast represent the two main morphological types of fungi with multicellular moulds forming branching filaments called hyphae and unicellular yeasts having an oval or spherical appearence. Fungi grow aerobically and most are strict aerobes. Fungal reproduction can either be sexual or asexual and in some species both types can occur. Fungi are able to tolerate high osmotic pressures and acidic environments as low as pH 5. Most fungal species of veterinary importance are referred to as ''deuteromycetes'' although some pathogenic fungi do exist in other phyla.
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===Types of Fungi===
Within the kindgom of Fungi there are four phyla; ''Ascomycota'' (ascomycetes), ''Basidiomycota'' (basidiomycetes) and ''Zygomycota'' (zygomycetes). These can be ditinguished by their sexual forms or telomorphs. Fungi imperfecti (deuteromycetes) do not have a sexual form and therefore represent a heterogenous fourth phyla.
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Fungal species can be called saprophytic, parasitic or mutualistic. Mutualistic fungi have obligatory associations with microorganisms without which the fungi cannot complete it's own life cycle. Mutualistic fungi are non-pathogenic.
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===Fungal Structure===
===Fungal Structure===
===Growth and Reproduction===
===Growth and Reproduction===
Fungal spores are able to germinate where environmental conditions are favourable. When this occurs
Fungal spores are able to germinate where environmental conditions are favourable. Fungal spores are the result of either sexual or asexual reproduction. When this occurs