Mode of nutrition and growth of fungi:
Heterotrophs, since they can't synthesize their own full in the absence of chlorophyll. The fungi are therefore usually parasites or saprophytes. Some fungi have a symbiotic relationship with other plants.
Parasites derived their nutrition from living hosts, plants or animals. They may be on the external surface of the host when they are called ectoparasites or maybe inside the host when they are turned endoparasites.
The endoparasites are either intercellular or intracellular. Ectoparasites and intercellular endoparasites produced specialized structures called Haustaria for absorbing nutrition from the host cells.
Parasites are always pathogenic and cause disease in the host. Parasites that cause severe diseases and often destroy the host are turned destructive parasites. But the other parasites which draw nutrition without killing the host are turned balanced parasites. Parasites that can grow only on living hosts and die in its absence are turned obligate parasites.
On the other hand, there are some parasites that can survive on dead and decaying organic matter. like parasite they can also be of two types those saprophytes which cant grow on a living host i.e; can draw nutrition only from the decaying organic matter are turned or obligate saprophytes.
The saprophytes which can also act as a parasite are called facultative parasite.
Some fungi lead a different mode of life, they derive nutrition found from a living member to which they also provide some kind of benefit in return.
These kind of relationship in which both the partners are equally benefited is known as symbiosis. Fungi and algae are symbionts in lichen. While fungus obtain nutrition from the algal partner, the later gets an absolute protection, water and nutrients from the fungal hyphae. Another good example of symbiotic relationship of fungi is that of mycorrhiza in which the fungal hyphae are associated with the roots of higher plants. Example: Pine. In many forest trees the fungal hyphae form a thin filaments around the roots and penetrate only between the outer cells. These type of Mycorrhiza is turned ectotrophic mycorrhiza. In others the hyphae penetrate inside the root cells and are called endotrophic mycorrhiza. Example: Orchid.
Parasites derived their nutrition from living hosts, plants or animals. They may be on the external surface of the host when they are called ectoparasites or maybe inside the host when they are turned endoparasites.
The endoparasites are either intercellular or intracellular. Ectoparasites and intercellular endoparasites produced specialized structures called Haustaria for absorbing nutrition from the host cells.
Parasites are always pathogenic and cause disease in the host. Parasites that cause severe diseases and often destroy the host are turned destructive parasites. But the other parasites which draw nutrition without killing the host are turned balanced parasites. Parasites that can grow only on living hosts and die in its absence are turned obligate parasites.
On the other hand, there are some parasites that can survive on dead and decaying organic matter. like parasite they can also be of two types those saprophytes which cant grow on a living host i.e; can draw nutrition only from the decaying organic matter are turned or obligate saprophytes.
The saprophytes which can also act as a parasite are called facultative parasite.
Some fungi lead a different mode of life, they derive nutrition found from a living member to which they also provide some kind of benefit in return.
These kind of relationship in which both the partners are equally benefited is known as symbiosis. Fungi and algae are symbionts in lichen. While fungus obtain nutrition from the algal partner, the later gets an absolute protection, water and nutrients from the fungal hyphae. Another good example of symbiotic relationship of fungi is that of mycorrhiza in which the fungal hyphae are associated with the roots of higher plants. Example: Pine. In many forest trees the fungal hyphae form a thin filaments around the roots and penetrate only between the outer cells. These type of Mycorrhiza is turned ectotrophic mycorrhiza. In others the hyphae penetrate inside the root cells and are called endotrophic mycorrhiza. Example: Orchid.
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