Fungi are a non-motile group of single-celled and multi-celled organisms. Yeasts, Molds, and mushrooms are all examples of fungi. Many fungi can cause disease and crop loss in humans, but other fungi provide essential nutrients for plant growth. Mushrooms are used in both the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. This paper discusses the various uses of fungi, which are useful in our daily lives in one way or another.
Wood-destroying fungi are precious as analytical tools for pure applied wood science. According to Schwarze et al. (2008), wool alterations in cell distribution and wall structure of cell wall components are reflected in the plasticity of the wood-degrading regime induced by wood-degrading bacteria. The specificity of these enzymes and the mildly degraded conditions make them potentially useful agents for wood modification (Hsiung, n.d.). Modern violin production is an appealing traditional field where wood can be modified using fungi that degrade wood.
Certain mushrooms, such as Agaricus sub rufescent, Ganoderma lucidum, and Cordyceps Sinensis, are used as remedies for traditional herbal medicine. Mushrooms contain unique nutrients and compounds that are effective against viruses. Shiitake mushrooms are a source of clinical medicine called lentinan. Lentinan is approved as a cancer treatment in Japan (Mittal, 2018). The well-known antibiotic penicillin is derived from the fungal penicillium. Industrial chemicals such as malic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid are also made from mushrooms. It is also used to make cellulose, lipase, and amylase, among other industrial enzymes. Laundry detergent contains lipase. Mushrooms can also be used as a natural pesticide. Fungi produce insecticidal toxins that can kill insects in low concentrations.
In summary, fungi are used for many different purposes and applied in other areas. For instance, they can be used for food purposes in preparing various culinary, medicinal purposes to manufacture drugs, industrial purposes for the production of enzymes, provision of nutrients for plant growth, and environmental benefits. These different functions are, therefore, useful in our daily lives in one way or another. When fully utilized, the fungi benefits stand to benefit the world as a whole.
References
Hsiung, A. (n.d.). Mycowood violins treated with fungi rival the sound of the famous Stradivarius violin.
Mittal, P. (2018). How to identify Ohio wild mushrooms. Sciencing.
Schwarze, F. W. M. R., Spycher, M., & Fink, S. (2008). Superior wood for violins – Wood decay fungi as a substitute for cold climate. New Phytologist, 179(4), 1095–1104.