Chapter 25.4, Problem 4CC

Summary Introduction

Fungi are eukaryotic, spore-bearing organisms and they have absorptive nutrition. They are terrestrial organisms, distributed from polar to nonpolar part in the world. They are saprophytes, obtain nutrients from various dead organic materials by the release of degradative enzymes into their surroundings. The enzymes released into the environment are involved in the absorption of soluble products and the process is known as osmotrophy. They can degrade complex organic materials into simple organic compounds and other inorganic molecules, therefore, fungi are considered as important decomposers. Fungi serve to the release of carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other important constituents from dead organisms. Hence, these molecules are available for other living organisms.