| Introduction
The Kingdom Fungi consists of the Divisions Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. The latter three groups are primarily terrestrial. As decomposers, with rapid growth and high surface-to-volume ratio, fungi have an intimate contact with their environment that is very different from most other organisms. An extensive mycelium can bind soil particles and litter and penetrate most of the upper soil volume. Maintenance of this intimate fungal environment requires that all parts of the fungus be metabolically active.
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