Explain the two different types of nutrition that fungi undergo and give an example of each?

Question: Explain the two different types of nutrition that fungi undergo and give an example of each?

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that lack chlorophyll and cannot make their own food. They depend on organic matter for their nutrition, which they obtain in different ways. There are two main types of nutrition that fungi undergo: saprotrophic and symbiotic.

Saprotrophic nutrition is when fungi feed on dead or decaying organic matter, such as wood, leaves, dung, or corpses. They secrete digestive enzymes that break down the complex molecules into simpler ones that they can absorb through their hyphae (thread-like structures). Saprotrophic fungi play an important role in recycling nutrients and decomposing organic matter in the environment. An example of a saprotrophic fungus is Rhizopus stolonifer, which causes bread mold.

Symbiotic nutrition is when fungi form a close association with another organism and both benefit from each other. There are different types of symbiotic relationships, such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. In mutualism, both partners benefit from the association, such as in mycorrhizae, which are symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots. The fungi help the plants absorb water and minerals from the soil, while the plants provide the fungi with organic carbon. An example of a mutualistic fungus is Glomus intraradices, which forms mycorrhizae with many plants. In commensalism, one partner benefits from the association while the other is unaffected, such as in lichens, which are symbiotic associations between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. The fungi provide protection and support for the photosynthetic partners, while the photosynthetic partners provide the fungi with organic carbon. An example of a commensalistic fungus is Cladonia rangiferina, which forms lichens with algae. In parasitism, one partner benefits from the association while the other is harmed, such as in fungal infections of animals or plants. The fungi invade the host tissues and absorb nutrients from them, causing disease or death. An example of a parasitic fungus is Puccinia graminis, which causes wheat rust.

These are the two different types of nutrition that fungi undergo and some examples of each.

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