Most of the fungi that we recognise as mushrooms are Basidiomycetes. Several, such as the Morels, are Ascomycetes. Most Ascomycetes, however, are microscopic. These are occasionally seen as mold, fluffy, powdery, orange or green material on bread, fruit or other material. Yeast, used in the production of beer, bread, and wine, is an ascomycete.
People study fungi for a variety of reasons.
Fungi are used in industrial applications, are prepared for human consumption, are important disease causing agents in agriculture, and cause increasingly important human diseases.