Extensive group of microorganisms (lat. Fungi) with around 100,000 species. Having long been categorised as part of the plant kingdom, they are now considered a separate kingdom due to their physiological and genetic characteristics and are more closely related to animals than plants. In contrast to almost all plants, they can exist without chlorophyll and, like animals, feed on organic nutrients in their environment.
Fungal organisms therefore do not develop through photosynthesis in the same way as plants (and therefore do not require light), but must live as putrefactive organisms, parasites or symbionts of dead or living organic substances. They often enter into a mutually beneficial symbiosis with the host plants. Fungi also include yeasts, which are important for fermentation. A large group is summarised under moulds. The growth of many types of fungi is favoured by high relative humidity from around 70%.
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