Course description

Responsible teacher (email): Dr. Vetter János ([Click to see email])

Prerequisites: No

Place of lectures: Department of Botany, Rottenbiller street 50. 1. floor

To give a general overview on the science of fungi: the main topics are summarized including chemical, cytological, morphological and physiological ecological characteristics. The problems of toxin producing fungi and such human and animal poisonings (some basic questions of veterinary mycology) are in the centre of discussion.

Recommended literature:

Vetter, J.: Toxins of Amanita phalloides. Toxicon, 36, 1, 13-24, 1998.

Mandatory:

Lecture notes

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Lectures theme

Week
1.		Introduction. History and disciplines if mycology. Role of fungi in the nature.
2.		Chemistry of fungi (inorganic components: water, minerals; organic components (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, aromatic components). Evaluation of nutritive value of mushrooms.
3.		Cytology of fungi (cell wall, membranes, ER, mitochondrion, Golgi, nucleus).
4.		Morphology of fungi (hypha, mycelium, fruit body, spores: types, modifications, examples).
5.		Taxonomy of fungi I. (Regnum Protista, Regnum Chromista).
6.		Taxonomy of fungi II. (Regnum Fungorum: class Ascomycetes).
7.		Taxonomy of fungi III. Class Basidiomycetes.  Deuteromycota: the most important genera in veterinary mycology.
8.		Nutrition of fungi: nutrients (carbon and nitrogen sources), nutrient media. Extracellular enzyme system of fungi; cellulose and lignin decomposition.
9.		Toxicology of fungi I: toxins, toxicosis, mycosis, mycetism. Toxins and poisonings caused by microscopic fungi.
10.		Toxicology of fungi II. Toxins and poisoning caused by higher fungi.
11.		Medicinal mushrooms (effects, substances, utilization, examples.
12.		Growth and development of fungi (germination of spores, growth of hypha, production of fruit body, facts and problems.
13.		Life types of fungi (Parasitic, saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi, practical importance, examples).
14.		Cultivation of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinula edodes)

Evaluation description

Grading scheme:

excellent: 90%

good: 80%

satisfactory: 70%

passing: 60%

Exam information

Written exam at the end of semester: the exam sheet has 25 questions, with 4-4 variants of answers

 

Update: 2023.02.06.