Question

Assertion: Fungi are heterotrophic
Reason: They lack chlorophyll
A.Both assertion and reason are correct and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
B.Both assertion and reason are correct and the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
C.The assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect
D.Both assertion and reason are incorrect

Answer 1

Some organisms prepare their own food for their needs. They are called autotrophs. Plants are the primary producers of almost all ecosystems. Certain other organisms depend on autotrophs for their food. They are called heterotrophs.

Complete step by step answer: Fungi are heterotrophic organisms as they can’t prepare their own food. Autotrophs prepare food by various means. Photosynthesis is the most common method by which autotrophs prepare food.
In photosynthesis, plants convert solar energy into chemical energy. Food produced by photosynthesis is stored and is used for the production of ATP. ATP is the energy currency of the cells.
In the process of photosynthesis, solar energy is trapped in the leaves by a special pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is of different types. They are chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll c, etc. Along with this, plants also need other pigments like carotenoids and xanthophyll. Autotrophs use sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, etc in this process.
Know that all autotrophs are not photosynthetic in nature. Some others produce food by a process called chemosynthesis. Here, they use chemical substances in order to prepare food. They are called chemoautotrophs. Examples are certain chemosynthetic bacteria like green sulfur bacteria, purple sulfur bacteria, etc.
So, photosynthesis is not the sole criterion for being autotrophic. Fungi are not heterotrophic as they lack chlorophyll, but because they can’t prepare food other methods like chemosynthesis too.
Hence the correct option is B.

Note: Fungi feed on soluble organic matter from dead organisms. As they feed on dead and decaying matter, they are called saprophytes. Along with some bacterias, they form the group of decomposers present in the soil.