Question

Fungi cannot be considered as
(a)Heterotrophic
(b)Autotrophic
(c)Saprophytic
(d)Parasitic

Answer 1

Hint Kingdom fungi mainly consists of multicellular and eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs that means they cannot produce their own food. They also play an important role in nutrient cycling in an ecosystem by decomposition.

Complete answer:
Fungi do not contain chlorophyll therefore they cannot manufacture their food through photosynthesis like green plants. Therefore, they obtain nutrition from organic material present in the environment and thus they are termed as heterotrophs.
As heterotrophs, they may exist as:
Parasites – When they derive nutrients from a living host and eventually harm the host.
Mutualistic symbionts – When they derive nutrients from a living host and in turn provides benefits to the host. E.g.: Lichens
Saprophytes- When they derive necessary nutrients from organic material or sometimes from remains and by-products of organisms. E.g.: Fungi that cause rot in wood
Thus, fungi mainly follow the heterotrophic mode of nutrition and can be either saprophytic or parasitic in nature; but cannot be termed as autotrophs (as they lack chlorophyll).

Additional information:
Fungi are subdivided into three main categories on the basis of their life cycles, the presence or structure of their fruiting body and the arrangement of and also the type of spores they produce.
The three major categories of fungi are:
-Multicellular filamentous moulds.
-Macroscopic filamentous fungi that form large fruiting bodies. Often, this group is referred to as ‘mushrooms’.
-Single-celled microscopic yeasts.
Fungi are heterotrophs meaning they cannot make their own food and must obtain nutrients from organic material. To derive nutrition they use their hyphae, which elongate and branch off very fast, allowing the mycelium of the fungus to quickly increase in size. Some fungi hyphae even develop root-like threads called rhizomorphs, which assist to tether the fungus to the substrate that it grows on while allowing it to quickly obtain more nutrients from other sources.

So, the correct answer is ‘Autotrophic’.

Notes: Moulds are a category of fungi that grow on foods over time and cause them to spoil. Several food items are refrigerated in order to prevent mould growth. However, some moulds are also used in the process of cheese-making. It is added to soft-ripened cheeses like brie, washed rind cheeses like Limburger, and blue cheeses.