Question

What are saprophytes? Give two examples.

Answer 1

Hint: It is a type of mode of nutrition in organisms.

Complete answer:
Saprophytes are the living organisms that get their energy from dead and decaying organic matter which may be decaying plants or animals.
Saprophytes are heterotrophs and are consumers in the food chain.

Characteristics of saprophytes
- They have a filamentous body structure.
- They do not have leaves, stems, and roots.
- They do not perform photosynthesis.
- They may produce spores.
- They break down complex matter into simpler substances.
- They are decomposers as they feed on dead and decaying matter.
- They do not grow in an alkaline medium but grow well in acidic conditions.
- They grow under the aerobic conditions where oxygen must be present.

Saprophytic nutrition
- Saprophytes secrete digestive juices and substances in the environment to break w complex organic matter into simple substances.
- The nutrients produced are absorbed directly through cell membranes of organisms.
- They are mainly found in fungi where the tubular structure called hyphae are present in branches and they produce digestive enzymes.

Examples:
Yeast – found on sugary substances and reproduce by budding.
Penicillium – grows on the dead and decaying matter like bread, jam, fruits, etc.

Note: Saprophytic nutrition is also called as lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed organic matter. It occurs in saprophytes and is mostly associated with fungi and soil bacteria.