Britannica Sources used in this answer

How are fungal cell walls different from plant cell walls?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Two Amanita pantherina mushrooms with brown caps covered in white spots grow among moss and fallen leaves. — fungus A pair of panther cap mushrooms (*Amanita pantherina*). Closely related to the death cap mushroom (*Amanita phalloides*), the panther cap is highly poisonous.

The primary difference between fungal and plant cell walls lies in their chemical composition. While plant cell walls are composed primarily of cellulose—a complex carbohydrate that provides structural rigidity and support—most fungal cell walls lack cellulose entirely.123

Instead, the main structural components of the fungal cell wall are chitin and glucans. Chitin is a distinct polymer that provides strength and protection to the fungal cell. While some funguslike organisms may contain cellulose, the vast majority of fungi rely on this chitin-glucan matrix to maintain their form and integrity. Additionally, the chemical composition of fungal cell walls can be dynamic, sometimes varying during different stages of the organism's growth or development.12