Fungi and Protists: Overview and Diseases

Fungi

• Characteristics:

  • Eukaryotic organisms like plants and animals.
  • Can be unicellular (e.g., yeast) or multicellular (e.g., mushrooms).
  • Multicellular fungi have structures called hyphae, which spread through soil.
  • Hyphae can produce spores, spreading fungi further.

• Diseases:

  • Rose Black Spot:
    • Causes purple or black spots on plant leaves, particularly roses.
    • Leads to yellowing and dropping of leaves, reducing photosynthesis.
    • Spreads via water or wind.
    • Treated by removing infected leaves (which should be destroyed) or using fungicides.

Protists

• Characteristics:

  • Also eukaryotic.
  • Mostly unicellular.
  • Some are parasites, living at the expense of host organisms.
  • Often transported by vectors (e.g., insects) that do not get infected.

• Diseases:

  • Malaria:
    • Caused by a parasitic protist.
    • Requires a host (e.g., human or animal) to survive.
    • Spread by mosquitoes, which act as vectors.
    • Symptoms include recurrent fevers, headaches, and general malaise.
    • Can be fatal.

• Prevention:

  • Reduce vector population by destroying mosquito breeding sites or using insecticides.
  • Prevent mosquito bites using nets or repellents.

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