Morphogenesis in fungi

The fungi probably evolved as a distinct group in very ancient times and today have still a relatively simple type of basic organization, although showing a high degree of specialization in certain directions. These features, combined with a marked plasticity of form in response to external conditions, make fungi very suitable organisms for morphogenetic studies. The problems of fungal morphogenesis are discussed; in particular, the extent to which development can be causally linked with physiological and biochemical processes at the cellular level. The experimental evidence is at present inadequate for a fundamental understanding of this problem but some general lines of investigation can be suggested.