Similarities and Difference between Algae and Fungi

Algae vs Fungi

Algae and fungi are thallophytic cryptogams of plant Kingdom. Both algae and fungi share many common characteristics and thus they are treated in the same division Thallophyta of Cryptogams according to Eichler’s Classification. Even though they are in same class, thallophyta, they also show some distinct differences particularly in their mode of nutrition, physiology and reproduction. This post describes what are the Similarities and Difference between Algae and Fungi.

Similarities between Algae and Fungi

Ø  Both algae and fungi are thallophytes (plant body not differentiated into root, stem and leaves)

Ø  Both algae and fungi are placed together in the division thallophyta of cryptogams

Ø  With the exception of blue green algae, majority of algae and fungi are eukaryotic

Difference between Algae and Fungi

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ALGAEFUNGILICHENS
BRYOPHYTESPTERIDOPHYTESGYMNOSPERMS
CYANOBACTERIAMICROTECHNIQUEPLANT ECOLOGY
PLANT ANATOMYPLANT EMBRYOLOGYPLANT BREEDING
PLANT SYSTEMATICSPLANT PHYSIOLOGYPLANT PATHOLOGY

Ø  Vascular tissue system is absent in both groups

Ø  Both algae and fungi processes cell wall made of polysaccharides, chemical nature of cell wall varies in algae and fungi

Ø  Symbiotic members are present in both groups (algae with animals, fungi with roots of higher plants, between algae and fungi as in lichens)

Ø  Both groups can reproduce by vegetative reproduction by fragmentation

Ø  Both algae and fungi can reproduce asexually by the production of various motile and non-motile spores

Ø  Sex organs are naked in both groups, no protective covering for sex organs in both groups

Difference between Algae and Fungi

Sl. No.AlgaeFungi
1Example: Oscillatoria (BGA), Oedogonium, Chara, Diatoms, Sargassum, PolysiphoniaExamples: Pythium, Phytopthora, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Puccinia, Agaricus (mushrooms)
2Mostly aquaticMostly terrestrial
3Chlorophyll presentChlorophyll absent
4Autotrophic nutritionHeterotropic nutrition
5Light is necessary for the survivalLight is not necessary for the survival
6Few algae are prokaryotic (Blue Green Algae) Majority are eukaryoticAll fungi are eukaryotic
7Usually Green colouredUsually colourless (hyaline) sometimes bright coloured, never will be green
8Plant body filamentous or parenchymatousPlant body filamentous or pseudo-parenchymatous
9Cell wall composed of celluloseCell wall composed of chitin
10Cells usually uninucleateCells usually bi-nucleate or multinucleate
11Reserve food material is starchReserve food material is glycogen
12Spore are always endospores in algae (endospore = spores produced inside the sporangium)Spore are always endospores in algae (endospore = spores produced inside the sporangium)
13Shows progressive complexity in sexual reproductionShows progressive simplicity in sexual reproduction
14Sexual reproduction is simple in lower forms of algae and it is complex in advanced formsSexual reproduction is complex in lower forms of fungi and it is simple in advanced forms
15Mitosis is usual type, nuclear membrane disorganize during mitosisMitosis is special type called endo mitosis, nuclear membrane do not disorganize during mitosis
16Parasitic members are very uncommonParasitic members of very common
17Zoospores, aplanospores, Chlamydospores etc. are important sporesConidiospores, zoospores and aplanospores are important spores
18Sexual reproduction occurs by isogamy, anisogamy or oogamySexual reproduction occurs by isogamy, anisogamy, oogamy, gametangial contact, gametangial copulation, spermatization and somatic hybridization
19During union of games, plasmogamy immediately follows karyogamyIn higher fungi delayed karyogamy occurs
20Dikaryotic phase is completely absentDistinct dikaryotic phase is present in some higher fungi like members of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes
21Clamp connection and crozier formation are completely absent in algaeClamp connection and crozier formation are present in higher fungi for the establishment of dikaryotic phase
22Para-sexual cycle is not reported in algaePara-sexual cycle is reported in many fungi

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@. Algae: General Characteristics

@. Fungi: General Characteristics

@. Lichens: General Characteristics

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@. Pigmentation in Algae

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