Fungi produce an extreme array of very potent bioactive comp

Fungi produce an extreme array of very potent bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides.

Knowing that the fungus spends energy to manufacture these toxin(s); discuss ¹why they are produced and ²why do you think there is such a wide assortment (poisons, antibiotics, psychoactive compounds, etc.).

Solution

Answer 1: Fungi are ubiquitous, they produce secondary metabolite like mycotoxin in response to the stress condition due to potentially susceptible to contamination.

Answer 2: Due to ubiquitous nature of fungi, they have the ability to produce wide range of secondary metabolite, some of which are useful and some are harmful like penicillin which is antibiotic, aflatoxin which is poison and many more.