**Fungi Characteristics****Question:** Which of the following statements below is/are true?Fungi are _______:1. Chemoheterotrophs2. Photoautotrophs3. Prokaryotes4. Eukaryotes5. Ingestive nutrition6. Absorptive nutrition7. Many live as saprobes, using dead organisms as a source of carbon and energy8. Some live as parasites9. Some live as mutualists with other organisms**Options:**- ○ 1, 2, 3, 4- ○ 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9- ○ 5, 6, 7, 8- ○ 2, 4, 6, 8

The term fungi was coined by Gaspard Bauhin. The study of fungi is known as Mycology. These have several different characteristic features which help them survive in the environment. Option is 1,4,6,7,8,9 is correct with respect to fungal characteristics. Reason : Fungi are chemoheterotrophs as they require inorganic compounds for energy and carbon. Fungi are eukaryotes meaning they are multicellular organisms. Fungi are heterotrophic but they cannot ingest food materials like animals. Instead, they have absorbtive nutrition meaning, they directly absorb nutrients from the substratum through their cell membranes. Depending on the mode of nutrition fungi can be saprophytic or parasitic. The saprophytic fungi grows on dead, decaying organic matter. Parasites live inside or on the body of a host organisms, eg. Plants and animals. They derive their nutrition by means of a haustorium. It is a peg-like outgrowth that penetrates the host tissue. Some fungi have mutual relationships with their host meaning both benefit each other. Example the relationship between mycorrhiza and lichens.