The modes of nutrition are diverse. They may get their food from decaying plants or animal matter or from the tissue of a living plants and animals or as a saprophyte on decaying plant or animal matter. Their vital role therefore is to decompose dead plants and animals, breaking down into chemicals which are then recycled back into the soil to support the growth of plants.

Some varieties of fungi ate unicellular while others re multicellular. There are various kinds of fungi like the mucor, mushroom, mucedo, yeast, penicillium, albugo, blight etc.

The mucor is commonly called “pim-mould” and grows on stale moist bread, rotten fruit, decaying flowers, wet shoes and horse-dung. It spreads like a codweb.

The albugo is a common “downy mildew”. It si a parasite that lives on the mustard, radish, cabbage and turnip plants and causes a disease called “white rust”.

The yeast is found in sugar solutions such as the juice of date-palm and grapes. It has the property of changing sugar into alcohol and is therefore used in the manufacture of toddy, wine, beer, alcohol etc. it is also used as a medicine because of its high vitamin content.

The agricus commonly called mushroom is a fleshy fungus. it grows in the rainy season on damp, rotten wood, decaying organic matter an in damp soil rich in organic substances.

Fungi cause several diseases in plants. However they are also very useful in producing antibiotics like penicillin, streptomycin and terramycin.