Similarities Between Fungi and Plants

What are Fungi?

Fungi are eukaryotic heterotrophic organisms. They have some shared features with animals, and others – with plants. However, they are characterized by some specific features and form a separate, distinct group – Kingdom Fungi.

Like animals, they release uric acid in their metabolism, their cell wall is made up of chitin, they produce glycogen, and are heterotrophs. Their main similarity with plants is expressed in their unlimited growth, rigid cell walls and presence of vacuoles.

The fungi include microscopic (yeasts and molds) and macroscopic organisms (mushrooms).

The vegetative body of multicellular fungi is complex and is called mycelium. It is made up of multiple thread-like structures, called “hyphae”. The hyphae may have cellular or non-cellular structure.

The fungi have one or more nuclei in the cells, with a nuclear wall, nucleolus, and chromosomes. The cells have mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, etc. The organelles, unique for fungi are chitosomes, spindle pole body, Woronin-body, etc.  There are no plastids.

Fungi are parasites or saprophytes. They feed by absorption of molecules dissolved by secreted digestive enzymes. Fungi usually feed with their whole body – each hypha absorbs water and dissolved nutrients through the osmotic pathway. Only some parasitic species form haustoria that penetrate the body of the host and ingest nutrients. Mycorrhizal fungi are also known, living in symbiosis with the roots of autotrophic plants.

Fungi reproduce vegetatively, sexually and asexually.

Fungi are a large group of organisms with over 100,000 species. They are distributed in all habitat types, but most of them are terrestrial. They live attached to the substrate (soil, plants), only the spores are mobile.

What are Plants?

The plants are eukaryotic phototrophic organisms. They are characterized by some specific features and systematically form a distinct group – Kingdom Plantae.

This Kingdom includes predominantly multicellular organisms (trees, shrubs, grasses, lianas, ferns, mosses, and algae), but there are also unicellular ones (algae).

Depending on the body structure, the plants are divided into thallus and cormus plants. The thallus plants (algae) have no distinct tissues and organs. Cormus plants have developed tissues and organs (vegetative and generative).

The plants are eukaryotes, they have a nucleus with a nuclear wall, nucleolus, and chromosomes. The cells have vacuoles, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, etc. Typical for the plants is the presence of rigid cellulosic cell wall.

The plants are obtaining the energy, necessary for their life processes from the sunlight through photosynthesis. In this process, they use chlorophyll, located in special organelles – chloroplasts. The chlorophyll gives the green color of the plants.

There are also parasite plant species. They may not photosynthesize or produce significant amounts of chlorophyll.

Plants reproduce sexually, asexually and vegetatively. They have unlimited growth.

Plants are the source of the bulk of free oxygen on Earth. They are a major element of the most ecosystems. All heterotrophs depend on the chemical energy accumulated in the form of organic compounds that plants get from sunlight through photosynthesis.

Terrestrial plants are key components of the oxygen cycle, water cycle and several other biogeochemical cycles. Some plants co-evolved with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and thus have an important role in the nitrogen cycle. Plants are used for food, building material, medicines, decorative purposes, and many others.

The plants are a large group of organisms with over 300,000 species. There are terrestrial and aquatic species. They live attached to the substrate (soil, other plants), the pollen and seeds are mobile.

What are the Similarities Between Bacteria and Fungi

Similarities in Terms of “Taxonomy”

Fungi and plants are characterized by some specific features and systematically form distinct groups – Kingdoms Fungi and Plantae.

Similarities in Terms of “Organization”

Both fungi and plants are predominantly multicellular organisms, but there are also unicellular species.

Similarities in Terms of “Cell Structure”

• Fungi and plants are eukaryotic organisms. They have nucleus with a nuclear wall, nucleolus and chromosomes.
• Fungi and plants have rigid cell walls.
• Fungus and plant cells have vacuoles, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, etc.

Similarities in Terms of “Reproduction”

Fungi and plants reproduce sexually, asexually and vegetatively.

Similarities in Terms of “Growth”

Fungi and plants have unlimited growth.

Similarities in Terms of “Habitat”

• There are terrestrial and aquatic species of fungi and plants.
• Typically, fungi and plants live attached to the substrate (soil, other plants). The spores (fungi), pollen and seeds (plants) are mobile.

Similarities in Terms of “Symbiosis”

Fungi and plants are able to participate in symbiotic associations, including with each other (mycorrhizal fungi live in symbiosis with the roots of autotrophic plants).

Similarities in Terms of “Importance”

• Fungi and plants are used as food and for preparation of different medicines.
• Fungi and plants have different participation in the cycling of elements in the biosphere, but both have very important roles in it.

Summary:

• Fungi and plants are characterized by some specific features and systematically form distinct groups – Kingdoms Fungi and Plantae.
• Both fungi and plants are predominantly multicellular organisms, but there are also unicellular species.
• Fungi and plants are eukaryotic organisms. They have nucleus with a nuclear wall, nucleolus and chromosomes.
• Fungus and plant cells have vacuoles, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, etc. The cell walls are rigid.
• Fungi and plants reproduce sexually, asexually and vegetatively. They have unlimited growth.
• There are terrestrial and aquatic species of fungi and plants. Typically they live attached to the substrate.
• Fungi and plants have an important role in the cycling of elements in the biosphere. They are used as food and for preparation of different medicines.