Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Answer: Saprophytic mode of nutrition is a type of heterotrophic nutrition. At the same time, heterotrophic nutrition is one of the main modes of nutrition. Nutrition is the process of acquiring food required for the nourishment and sustenance of the organism. Heterotrophic nutrition has subtypes as holozoic, saprophytic and parasitic nutrition. In the saprophytic mode of nutrition, organisms feed on dead and decaying organic matter. The food is partially digested outside the body, and later on, it is absorbed.
- In the process, proteins are broken down into amino acid composites, Lipids are broken into fatty acids, starch is broken down into pieces of simple disaccharides, and the major portion of plant cell cellulose is broken down into glucose
- The conditions refer to the presence of water, oxygen, Neutral acidic-pH (neutral or mildly acidic condition under pH 7) and low, medium temperature
Fungi and yeast are examples of saprophytic nutrition. Some common fungi are bread mould, yeast and mushroom.
Fungi grow on pickles, leather objects, and clothes kept in hot and humid weather in an unclean manner. Sometimes fungi growth destroys the object or things.
Fungi as mushrooms are eaten as a vegetable, whereas yeast is used for producing alcohol. Fungi like penicillium are used in making an antibiotic. The antibiotic is penicillin. Saprophytes are beneficial for the environment as they are the primary recyclers of nutrients. They break down the organic matter like nitrogen, carbon and minerals it contains can be put back into a form as another organism can take it and use it.
