The fungi kingdom is important to nature and people. They break down dead organic material and supply many plants with essential nutrients. Some provide numerous drugs like penicillin and other antibiotics and food like the mushrooms on salads.
Fungi can cause some diseases in plants and animals. Some dieases caused by fungi are rusts, smuts, and leaf, root, and stem rots. This can do severe damage to crops. In people, fungi can cause ringworm, athlete’s foot, and some more serious diseases.
National Science Education Standard: Life Science: The Characteristics of Organisms