Question

The mode of nutrition of Rhizopus , Yeast and Penicillium is
A. Parasitic
B. Saprophytic
C. Symbiotic
D. Autotrophic

Answer 1

Hint: Mode of nutrition is a method by which an organism is able to take up the nutrients such as carbon or other organic material from the surroundings and utilize it as food through their mechanism and obtain energy to do the daily proper functioning and survive.

Complete answer:
Rhizopus is a form of fungi that is usually present on plants, animals, etc. Its mode of nutrition is by taking sources such as carbon, nitrogen from the dead and decay material and converting it into a digestible form for them by secreting certain chemicals on the matter for easy uptake.
Yeast doesn’t have chlorophyll so it can’t make its own food, it lives on or with a mutualistic relationship with fungus on a decade or dead material, which helps the yeast to the uptake of nutrients from the surroundings.
Penicillium belongs to the ascomycetes group of fungi which feed on dead and decay material, they produce mycotoxins which cause food poisoning.
Hence, all these share the same type of mode of nutrition which is the Saprophytic mode as all of them feed on decay and dead source.

The correct option is B) Saprophytic.

Note: They all feed by absorption and secretion of enzymes to uptake the organic source more easily but they differ in their structure.The other three points are discussed below:
 In parasitic mode of nutrition, the parasite feeds on the host and harms the hosts.
 In symbiotic mode of nutrition, the fungi provides shelter to algae and algae make food for fungi. Symbiosis is a mutual relationship. In this relationship no one harms each other.
 In autotrophic mode of nutrition,green plants make their own food through photosynthesis.