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ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI
Useful effects :
Source of food : Some species of Agaricus , Morchella , Clavatia , Coperinus , Lentinus , Torulopsis , etc. are edible, rich in protein content. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used for making 'yeast cake'. A mixture of yeasts and cereal flour forms a nutritious preparation, called incaparina. Brewing and baking : Yeasts are used in breweries and bakeries for fermenting sugar. Flavouring and processing of food : Some species of Penicillium are commonly used for maturing and flavouring cheese. Aspergillus wentii is used for processing soybeans.
Production of organic acids : Several species of fungi are employed for the commercial production of some organic acids, such as citric acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, gallic acid, gluconic acid, etc. Production of antibiotics : Some species of Penicillium , Mucor , Aspergillus , Acremonium , Agaricus , etc. produce different kinds of antibiotics. Production of useful chemicals : Fungi are significant as good sources of vitamins, enzymes, glycerol, some alkaloids, gibberellins (plant hormones) etc. Production of beer and wine : Some strains of Saccaromyces cerevisiae commonly used in the manufacture of beer and wine. Preparation of medicines : Some species of Claviceps (e.g:- C.purpurea) are used for the production of the drug ergotine which induces uterine contraction during delayed child birth.
Harmful effects
Cause human diseases : Human diseases, such as ‘ring worm’ of skin, moniliasis of nails, asperigillosis of lungs, etc. are caused by fungi. Cause diseases of crop plants : Powdery mildew of wheat, grapes and peas, blight diseases of potato, blast disease of paddy, smut disease of wheat, barley, oats, bajra, jowar and sugarcane, rust disease of wheat, rot of sugarcane, etc. are the common fungal disease of crop plants. Spoilage of food : Fungi like Rhizopus , Mucor , Aspergillus , Fusarium , Oidium , etc. grow on food items and spoil them. Rotting of wood : Several fungi (e.g. Polyporus , Ganoderma ) bring about the degradation of cellulose and lignin and thereby cause the rotting of wood. Damage commercial articles : Fungi like Rhizopus , Aspergillus , Cladosporium
etc. cause the deterioration & damage of textile articles, leather, rubber, cork. Destruction to paper pulp: Some species of Polyporus , Polysticus , etc. damage wood pulp and thereby seriously affect paper industry.
