Useful Activities of Fungi

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Useful activities of Fungi: (1) Destruction of organic waste: Saprophytic Fungi decompose plant and animal remains by acting as natural scavengers. Carbon dioxide released in the process is used by green plants. By some workers saprophytic Fungi have been designated as vegetative vultures. (2) In Industry: (A) Many fungi are used in the commercial preparation of many organic acids and some vitamin preparation. Aspergillus miger, A. glaucus, A. clavatus, citronyces citricus have been recommended for preparation citric acid. Many fungi also prepare gluconic acid lactic acid. Aspergillus and Fusaruim are source riboflavin, a constituent of vitamin B. Yeasts are also rich in vitamin B. (B) Recently Fungi have been founded to be the basis of entire alcoholic industry. The basis of alcoholic industry is production of ethyl alcohol by fermentation of sugar solutions by yeast. Yeasts are source of complex enzyme zymase which is responsible for the process of fermentation. Yeasts are used in making wines, bear and ciders. (C) Certain yeasts Saccharamyces cerevisiaes form important basis of baking industries. (D) Some fungi such as species of Penicillium are used in preparation of certain cheese. (3) As food: Many fungi like mushroom (Agaricus), Puffballs (Lycoperdon), Morels (Morchella) are edible. They are important as protein sources. They are regarded as delicacies of table. Large scale production of yeast is used in conversion of carbohydrates and in organic nitrogen salts in to edible and nutritional forms. Yeast food supplies a number of vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, micotomic acid, Panthothenic acid, biotin etc. Yeast food is there fore supplement of human food requirements. (4) In Medicines or Medicinal value: Recently many fungi have been founded to be responsible for producing certain antibiotic drugs
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