Importance for humans Ascomycota

tree attacked bluestain fungus, ophiostoma minus

ascomycetes make many contributions of humanity, , have many ill effects.

harmful interactions

one of harmful roles agent of many plant diseases. instance:

dutch elm disease, caused closely related species ophiostoma ulmi , ophiostoma novo-ulmi, has led death of many elms in europe , north america.


claviceps purpurea on rye (secale cereale)



the asian cryphonectria parasitica responsible attacking sweet chestnuts (castanea sativa), , virtually eliminated once-widespread american chestnut (castanea dentata),
a disease of maize (zea mays), prevalent in north america, brought cochliobolus heterostrophus.
taphrina deformans causes leaf curl of peach.
uncinula necator responsible disease powdery mildew, attacks grapevines.
species of monilinia cause brown rot of stone fruit such peaches (prunus persica) , sour cherries (prunus ceranus).
members of ascomycota such stachybotrys chartarum responsible fading of woollen textiles, common problem in tropics.
blue-green, red , brown molds attack , spoil foodstuffs - instance penicillium italicum rots oranges.
cereals infected fusarium graminearum contain mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (don), can lead skin , mucous membrane lesions when eaten pigs.
ergot (claviceps purpurea) direct menace humans when attacks wheat or rye , produces highly poisonous , carcinogenic alkaloids, causing ergotism if consumed. symptoms include hallucinations, stomach cramp, , burning sensation in limbs ( saint anthony s fire ).
aspergillus flavus, grows on peanuts , other hosts, generates aflatoxin, damages liver , highly carcinogenic.
candida albicans, yeast attacks mucous membranes, can cause infection of mouth or vagina called thrush or candidiasis, , blamed yeast allergies .
fungi epidermophyton cause skin infections not dangerous people healthy immune systems. however, if immune system damaged can life-threatening; instance, pneumocystis jirovecii responsible severe lung infections occur in aids patients.

positive effects

on other hand, ascus fungi have brought important benefits humanity.

the famous case may of mould penicillium chrysogenum (formerly penicillium notatum), which, attack competing bacteria, produces antibiotic that, under name of penicillin, triggered revolution in treatment of bacterial infectious diseases in 20th century.
the medical importance of tolypocladium niveum immunosuppressor can hardly exaggerated. excretes ciclosporin, which, being given during organ transplantation prevent rejection, prescribed auto-immune diseases such multiple sclerosis, although there doubt on long-term side-effects of treatment.


stilton cheese veined penicillium roqueforti



some ascomycete fungi can altered relatively through genetic engineering procedures. can produce useful proteins such insulin, human growth hormone, or tpa, employed dissolve blood clots.
several species common model organisms in biology, including saccharomyces cerevisiae, schizosaccharomyces pombe, , neurospora crassa. genomes of number of ascomycete fungi have been sequenced.
baker s yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) used make bread, beer , wine, during process sugars such glucose or sucrose fermented make ethanol , carbon dioxide. bakers use yeast carbon dioxide production, causing bread rise, ethanol boiling off during cooking. vintners use ethanol production, carbon dioxide being released atmosphere during fermentation. brewers , traditional producers of sparkling wine use both, primary fermentation alcohol , secondary 1 produce carbon dioxide bubbles provide drinks sparkling texture in case of wine , desirable foam in case of beer.
enzymes of penicillium camemberti play role in manufacture of cheeses camembert , brie, while of penicillium roqueforti same gorgonzola, roquefort , stilton.
in asia, aspergillus oryzae added pulp of soaked soya beans make soy sauce, , used break down starch in rice , other grains simple sugars fermentation east asian alcoholic beverages such huangjiu , sake.
finally, members of ascomycota choice edibles; morels (morchella spp.), truffles (tuber spp.), , lobster mushroom (hypomyces lactifluorum) of sought-after fungal delicacies.