Define some Beneficial Effects of Fungi?
1. These act as decomposers and can degrade complex organic molecules in dead plants and animals to simple organic compounds and inorganic molecules, making the soil fertile.
2. Fungi, especially the yeasts are important in brewing and baking industry. These yeasts, such as Saccharomyces, are used for making beer and bread. Many wild yeasts are involved in production of wine.
3. Fungi also play a role in production of some foods like, cheese, soy sauce, sufu etc., in manufacturing of organic acids like citric and galic acid and in making of certain drugs, like ergometrine, cortisone etc.
4. Many antibiotics, e.g. Penicillin, Griseofulvine and immunosuppressive drugs, e.g. cyclosporine are manufactured by fungi.
5. In addition, fungi are used for making many industrial enzymes.
6. Fungi are also important as research tools in the study of fundamental biological processes and is used regularly by geneticists, cytologists, biochemists, microbiologists etc. for their research purpose.
7. Many yeasts are valuable as a food supplement because of their high vitamin content.