Describe the role of fungi in nature and in human life.

Fungi are one of the most important groups of organisms on the planet. This is easily overlooked given their largely hidden, invisible actions and growth. They are very important for:

Recycling. Fungi, along with bacteria, are responsible for much of the recirculation, which returns dead material to the soil in a form in which it can be reused. Without mushrooms, these processing activities will be severely curtailed.

Mycorrhiza and plant growth. Fungi are vital for the good growth of most plants, including agricultural crops, through the development of mycorrhizal associations. Since plants are at the core of most food webs, if their growth were restricted, the entire life of animals, including humans, would be severely diminished by starvation.

Nutritional Purposes. Mushrooms are also important directly as food for humans. Many mushrooms are edible and different types are grown for sale around the world. While this is a very small fraction of the actual food we eat, mushrooms are also widely used in many foods and drinks.