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Difference Between Protists and Fungi

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Difference Between Protists and Fungi

April 21, 2017 • by Lakna • 4 min read

Main Difference – Protists vs Fungi

Protists and fungi are classified in kingdom Protista and
kingdom Fungi, respectively. Both protists and fungi are less
organized organisms when compared with plants and animals.
But, both consists of membrane­bound organelles like Golgi
apparatus and ER. Their chromosomes are organized into a
nucleus as well. Some protists are autotrophs, while others are
lime production line heterotrophs. Fungi are heterotrophs. The main difference
High Calcination system
100-1500t/d active lime
between protists and fungi is that protists are mainly
production line.contact us. unicellular organisms whereas fungi are mainly
multicellular organisms.

This article explores,

1. What are Protists

– Characteristics, Classification, Types, Examples
2. What are Fungi
– Characteristics, Classification, Types, Examples
3. What is the difference between Protists and Fungi

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What are Protists

Protists are unicellular organisms, which cannot be typically observed by the naked eye. They are classified under the
kingdom of Protista as eukaryotes, which are not either fungi, plants or animals. Some protists contain a cell wall but
some do not. Protists can be either autotrophic, heterotrophic, parasitic or saprotrophic. They exhibit sexual
reproduction by producing gametes and asexual reproduction by binary fission.

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Protozoans, algae and molds are the three domains of kingdom Protista. Protozoans are the animal­like unicellular
microorganisms of protists. They are heterotrophs, engulfing food particles by phagocytosis and digesting them in
order to obtain nutrients. Protozoans are capable of moving by the motion of their flagella and pseudopodia.
Flagellata, Ciliophora, Amoebozoa and Sporozoa are the four types of protozoans. Algae are the plant­like, mostly
unicellular organisms. They are autotrophs, containing a single chloroplast per cell in order to carry out
photosynthesis. Three types of algae are found: green algae, red algae and brown algae. Molds are the fungus­like,
multicellular eukaryotes. Slime molds and water molds are the two types of molds. They are the giant members of
kingdom Protista.

Figure 1: Algae floating in water

What are Fungi

Fungi are eukaryotic, multicellular organisms, which are
classified into the kingdom fungi. They are mainly
immobile. The most characteristic feature of fungi is their
chitin cell wall. Fungi are heterotrophs, which are capable
of digesting food in the extracellular environments by
secreting digestive enzymes. Most fungi are found in soil
and on dead matter. They also live as symbionts with plants
Tailings Re-Mining
and animals. Some fungi become parasitic to the host
Amphibious Watermaster
organism. The growth of fungi occurs as hyphae, which are Dredger For Tailings Re-
Mining
cylindrical, thread­like structures. Hyphae is divided into
compartments by septa. Mushrooms produce fruit bodies,
which can be consumed by other animals. Asexual reproduction of fungi occurs by the production of spores. Sexual
reproduction occurs by mating.

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Seven phyla of fungi are described by scientists. They are Microsporidia, Ascomycota, Glomeromycota,
Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota and Blastocladiomycota. Microsporidia are unicellular
parasites in protists and animals. The characteristic feature of Ascomycota is the production of spores inside the
ascus. Glomeromycota are parasites in plants. They invade roots of plants by their fungal hyphae. Basidiomycota
produce meiospores in basidia. Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota and Blastocladiomycota produce
zoospores, which are mobile.

Figure 2: Sarcoscypha occidentalis fruit bodies

Difference Between Protists and Fungi

Unicellular/Multicellular
Protists: Protists are mostly unicellular.

Fungi: Fungi are mostly multicellular.

Cell Wall
Protists: Some protists like molds and algae have a cell wall. But, others do not have a cell wall like protozoans.
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Fungi: Fungi contain a cell wall made up of chitin.

Mode of Nutrition
Protists: Protists are either autotrophs, heterotrophs, parasites or saprotrophs.

Fungi: Fungi are heterotrophs.

Reproduction
Protists: Asexual reproduction is observed in protists through binary fission. Sexual reproduction occurs viathe
production of gametes.

Fungi: Asexual reproduction occurs by producing spores. Sexual reproduction occurs by mating.

Septa
Protists: No septa are found in protists.

Fungi: Septa are found in fungi, separating fungal hyphae into compartments.

Types
Protists: Protozoans, algae and molds are the three types of protists.

Fungi: Microsporidia, Ascomycota, Glomeromycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota and

Blastocladiomycota are the seven phyla of fungi.

Examples
Protists: Green algae, slime molds, euglena and amoeba are the examples of protists.

Fungi: Yeast, Pichia, Basidiomycota and Eomycota are the examples of fungi.

Conclusion
Protista and fungi are lower level organisms, which are classified into the kingdom Protista and Fungi, respectively.
Protists are mostly unicellular organisms, whereas the fungi are mostly multicellular organisms. Protozoans, algae
and molds are the three types of protists. Protozoans are animal­like, engulfing food particles from the environment by
phagocytosis. Algae contain chloroplasts. Molds are fungus­like giant structures. Protists can be either heterotrophs or
autotrophs. Fungi contain a cell wall, which is made up of chitin. Fungi grow as a hypae. Some fungi also possess
septa, producing separate compartments in the fungal hypae. Fungi are heterotrophs, which are capable of digesting

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food in the extracellular environment. However, the main difference between protists and fungi is their cellular
organization.

Image Courtesy:
1. “Algae, Microcystis (8741972050) contrasté” By NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (Public
Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Sarcoscypha occidentalis 46129″ By Dan Molter (shroomydan) at Mushroom Observer (CC BY­SA 3.0) via
Commons Wikimedia

Microscopy Magazine
The free magazine for the
microscopy enthusiast
microbehunter.com

About the Author: Lakna

Lakna, a graduate in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, is a Molecular Biologist and has a
broad and keen interest in the discovery of nature related things

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