🍄 Kingdom Fungi: One Shot Lecture Notes (NCERT Line-to-Line) for NEET 2026

Introduction

Namaskar Bachhon! Welcome to this One Shot blog post where we cover the entire Kingdom Fungi strictly based on NCERT for NEET 2026. This kingdom is unique because it consists entirely of heterotrophic organisms.

Let’s break down the chapter into easy-to-learn classroom notes. (यह लेक्चर पूरी तरह से NCERT पर आधारित है और NEET के लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है।)

Students who prefer video explanation can watch the lecture first. NCERT-based notes are given below.

1. Introduction & General Characteristics (परिचय और सामान्य लक्षण)

• Unique Nature: It is a unique kingdom of Heterotrophic Organisms (विषमपोषी जीव).
• Diversity: They show great diversity in Morphology and Habitat.
• Cosmopolitan (सर्वव्यापी): They are found everywhere—air, water, soil, animals, and plants.
• Habitat Preference: They prefer Warm and Humid conditions to grow.
  • Concept: Why do we keep food in the refrigerator? Because the fridge provides Cold and Dry conditions, which inhibits fungal growth.

Common Observations (उदाहरण जो आपने देखे होंगे):

1. Moist Bread: Molds (फफूंद) growing on bread kept in humid places.
2. Rotten Fruits: Orange rotting (संतरे का सड़ना).
3. Edible Fungi: Mushrooms and Toadstools.
4. Parasitic Fungi: White spots on Mustard leaves are due to a parasitic fungus called Albugo.

2. Structure of Fungal Body (फंगस की संरचना)

• Filamentous: Most fungi are filamentous (thread-like).
• Exception (NEET Star Point): Yeast is the only Unicellular fungus.
• Hyphae (हाइफी): Long, slender, thread-like structures.
• Mycelium (माइसीलियम): The network of hyphae is called Mycelium.

Types of Hyphae:

1. Septate Hyphae: Cross-walls (Septa) are present between cells.
2. Aseptate / Coenocytic Hyphae: No cross-walls (No septa). It appears as a continuous tube filled with Multinucleated Cytoplasm (सीनोसाइटिक अवस्था).

Cell Wall (कोशिका भित्ति):

Made of Chitin (Fungal Cellulose) and Polysaccharides.

3. Nutrition (पोषण)

Since they lack chlorophyll, they are Heterotrophic:

1. Saprophytes: Feed on dead organic matter/rotten material.
2. Parasites: Feed on living plants and animals (cause diseases).
3. Symbionts (सहजीवी):
   • Lichens: Association with Algae.
   • Mycorrhiza: Association with roots of higher plants.

4. Reproduction (प्रजनन) – Very Important for NEET

Fungi reproduce by three methods:

A. Vegetative Reproduction

• Fragmentation: Common in filamentous fungi.
• Fission.
• Budding: Found in Yeast (Very Important).

B. Asexual Reproduction

Occurs via Spores:

• Conidia
• Sporangiospores
• Zoospores.

C. Sexual Reproduction

Occurs via spores like Oospores, Ascospores, and Basidiospores produced in distinct structures called Fruiting Bodies.

Steps of Sexual Cycle (3 Steps):

1. Plasmogamy: Fusion of protoplasm of two motile/non-motile gametes.
2. Karyogamy: Fusion of two nuclei.
3. Meiosis: Occurs in the zygote to produce haploid spores.

NEET Special: Dikaryon Phase (n+n) In Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes, after plasmogamy, the nuclei do not fuse immediately. This condition (n+n) is called Dikaryon. The fungus stays in this phase for a long time before Karyogamy.

5. Classification of Fungi (वर्गीकरण)

Divided into 4 classes based on Morphology of Mycelium, Mode of Spore Formation, and Fruiting Bodies.

Class 1: Phycomycetes (Lower/Algal Fungi)

• Habitat: Aquatic, decaying wood in moist places, or Obligate Parasites on plants.
• Mycelium: Aseptate and Coenocytic.
• Asexual Rep:
  • Zoospores (Motile).
  • Aplanospores (Non-motile).
  • Produced Endogenously inside Sporangium.
• Sexual Rep: Zygospores formed by fusion of gametes (Isogamy/Anisogamy/Oogamy).
• Examples (Trick: RAM):
  • Rhizopus (Bread mould)
  • Albugo (Parasitic on Mustard)
  • Mucor.

Class 2: Ascomycetes (Sac Fungi)

• Habit: Mostly Multicellular (e.g., Penicillium), Rarely Unicellular (e.g., Yeast/Saccharomyces).
• Nutrition: Saprophytic, Decomposers, Parasitic, or Coprophilous (Growing on Dung/Gober).
• Mycelium: Branched and Septate.
• Asexual Rep: Conidia produced Exogenously on Conidiophores.
• Sexual Rep: Ascospores produced Endogenously in sac-like Asci (arranged in Ascocarp).
• Examples:
  • Aspergillus
  • Claviceps
  • Neurospora (Used in genetics – “Drosophila of Plant Kingdom”).
  • Morels & Truffles (Edible/Delicacies).

Class 3: Basidiomycetes (Club Fungi)

• Includes: Mushrooms, Bracket fungi, Puffballs.
• Mycelium: Branched and Septate.
• Parasites: Rusts (Puccinia) and Smuts (Ustilago).
• Reproduction Features (Unique):
  • Asexual spores are generally NOT found.
  • Vegetative reproduction by Fragmentation is very common.
  • Sex Organs are ABSENT.
• Mechanism: Plasmogamy occurs by fusion of two vegetative/somatic cells – forms Dikaryotic structure (n+n) – gives rise to Basidium.
• Spores: 4 Basidiospores produced Exogenously on the Basidium.
• Examples:
  • Agaricus (Mushroom)
  • Ustilago (Smut)
  • Puccinia (Rust fungus).

Class 4: Deuteromycetes (Fungi Imperfecti)

• Why Imperfect? Because only asexual/vegetative phases are known. Sexual stage is absent or unknown.
• Note: If sexual stage is discovered, they are moved to Ascomycetes or Basidiomycetes.
• Reproduction: Only by Asexual spores (Conidia).
• Mycelium: Septate and Branched.
• Role: Main role as Decomposers of litter and mineral cycling.
• Examples:
  • Alternaria
  • Colletotrichum
  • Trichoderma.

6. NEET Fact Sheet: Most Important Points ⚡

7. Short Tricks to Remember (याद करने की ट्रिक्स)

1. Phycomycetes Examples:

Trick: RAM

• R – Rhizopus
• A – Albugo
• M – Mucor

2. Spore Origin (Endogenous vs Exogenous):

• Phycomycetes: Endogenous (Inside sporangium)
• Ascomycetes:
  • Asexual (Conidia) – Exogenous (Outside).
  • Sexual (Ascospores) – Endogenous (Inside Ascus).
• Basidiomycetes: Basidiospores – Exogenous (On Basidium).

3. Mycelium Type:

• Only Phycomycetes is Aseptate/Coenocytic.
• All others (Asco, Basidio, Deutero) are Septate & Branched.

Teacher’s Note: Students, remember that Deuteromycetes are “Imperfect” because we haven’t found their sexual stage yet. Also, don’t forget the Dikaryon phase is exclusive to Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes!

All the best for your NEET Preparation! Padhte rahiye!