Harmful effects of fungi

Fungi are so intense in their numbers that taxonomists have made it a separate kingdom just like plant kingdom and animal kingdom. There is also another fact about fungi. The numerous fungi that are present today are believed to have descended from various ancestors and are called to be polyphyletic (derived from multiple lineages or genealogies). This explains the immense numbers of fungi that are available in the world today. The human knowledge of fungi is also very negligible. It is said that humans know only about 10% of the entire fungi kingdom while the other 90% remains largely undiscovered.

The economic importance of fungi all relate to decomposition, fermentation, helping the plants in their growth or even consumption of some fungi such as mushrooms. Their harmful effects are also to be considered. Fungi cause damage and destruction to wood and cloth, disease to plants, animals and humans and spoilage of food. Species of Aspergillus, Sporothrix and Fusarium are called as opportunistic pathogens and affect a person as soon as his immune system is weakened. Fungi also lead to allergies in people. Penicillium roquefortii as well as Aspergillus clavatus lead to pulmonary allergy in brewing and cheese industries. Arthrinium, in cane harvesters, cause skin allergies.

Fungi cause many plant diseases and range from vascular wilting to tissue death. Fungi lead to the damage of both field and even stored agricultural products. Fungi cause a lot of damage to agriculture every year. Fungi eat dangerous radiation and you can find the astronauts in the space surviving on crawling fungus. The black fungus is highly radioactive that grows on the damaged walls. Fungus opulent in melanin protects the skin from ultraviolet and solar radiation. Melanin is found in fungal species. This does not indicate that radioactive matter can completely be cleansed by fungi, instead it harnesses the energy.

The harmful effects of fungi include the various diseases caused on plants as well as animals. However, the humans are also not far from the harmful effects of fungi as they cause ringworm as well as athlete's foot. The plants catch diseases such as stem rots as well as smuts. Certain fungi attack insects and such fungi are not harmful to either animals or plants. Fungi exhibit harmful effects on the way it is being used. One of the harmful effects of fungi is the nail infection that relates to a cosmetic problem. This infection creates a lot of problem to humans, yet they are reluctant to take medicines. Moreover, this fungal infection spreads to other areas of the body externally. The infection may spread internally and turn to be grave, only if the person is unhealthy.

Linus Orakles
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