Page 34 - Intra Muros April Issue 2025

GARDENING

AN INTRODUCTION TO FUNGI

By Elize Malan

hen we think of fungi, edible diseases than any other group of plant
mushrooms come to mind. They pests. Scientists are familiar with more
Ware part of an incredible, diverse than 8 000 species that can cause disease.
kingdom of organisms encompassing a
wide range of life forms, from single-celled Fungi and FLOs are eukaryotic organisms
organisms to very complex, multicellular that lack chlorophyll and thus do not
organisms. have the ability to photosynthesize their
own food. Eukaryotic organisms are
In nature, beneficial fungi are of great organisms whose cells have a membrane- Mychorrizae fungi
Mychorriz
ae fungi
importance. There are millions known to bound nucleus. All animals, plants,
us and even more remain undiscovered fungi, seaweeds, and many unicellular Therefore, when gardening try to avoid
on earth. Fungi are closely interlinked with organisms are eukaryotes. conditions that are favourable for the
vegetation and with carbon and nutrient development of a fungus. It’s best to give
cycling. As a result, they are major drivers of Fungi and FLOs obtain nutrients by plants optimal growing conditions, to apply
soil health and other ecosystem functions absorption through tiny thread-like regular preventive treatments and to remove
such as decomposing organic matter, filaments. They can be grouped into four infected plant material from the garden.
recycling nutrients, and forming mutualistic categories based on their preference for
relationships with other organisms – all of surviving on dead or decaying organic When applying fungicide to plants it must be
which are essential in an ecosystem. matter versus living tissue. One of these delivered to the area of the plant where the
categories is the obligate parasite. It pathogen is active in order to be effective. Be
The two main types of beneficial fungi can only grow as a parasite on or in a aware that systemic fungicides applied as a
below ground are saprophytes and living host. All viruses, downy mildews, soil drench will also destroy beneficial soil
mychorrizae. Saprophytic fungi grow on powdery mildews, rusts and smuts are fungi.
decaying matter such as leaf litter, fallen what’s called obligate parasites.
trees and even dead animals. They are In food production, the use of genetically
capable of converting these materials into The failed wheat crops of the Middle Ages resistant plants, if available, should be the first
nutrients that are absorbed by living plants. is one example of the crisis that a fungus line of defence for diseases caused by fungi
can bring upon agricultural products. The and FLOs. There are generally more options
Mychorrizae are fungi that develop a great famine that occurred in Ireland available to professional plant production
partnership or symbiosis with living plants, and northern Europe in the mid-1840s specialists and growers to manage fungal
such as trees and grasses. Their presence is another – that’s when the potato crop and FLO diseases as compared to viral and
increases the effectiveness of the plant’s failed in successive years; the failure was bacterial diseases.
roots. Fungi deliver minerals and nutrients caused by potato blight.
from the soil to the plant roots, which in The beneficial fungi in our garden soils need
turn supply the mychorrizae with water For the average gardener, the presence of to be protected and encouraged. This can
and carbohydrates. fungi on plants is associated with disease. be done by applying only organic fertilisers,
The unattractive results of blackspot practising low-till or no-till gardening and
Unfortunately, fungi and fungal-like or rust or the inevitable death of some avoiding fungicide use.
organisms (FLOs) also cause more plant plants due to fungi is well known.
Sources:
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-gen-7
https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/gardening/
grow-gardening-columns/grow-columns-2020/june-21-
2020-beneficial-fungi

Tel: 012 804 1807 |Fax: 012 804 0278
Web: www.garden-group.co.za
Email: admin@garden-group.co.za

y
Saprophytic fungi
Saproph
tic fungi
32 | INTRAMUROS APRIL 2025