Question

Heterotrophic fungi can live as:
A. Parasite
B. Saprophyte
C. Symbiont
D. All of the Above

Answer 1

Heterotrophs are the organisms that obtain their energy from organic compounds/naturals. Heterotrophic organisms are unable to produce their own food and therefore consume/ingest organic compounds as a source of energy.

Complete answer:
Fungi are unicellular or multicellular thick cell walled heterotrophs decomposers that eat decaying matter. They are eukaryotes and have a complex cellular organization. Fungal cells do not leave chloroplasts or chlorophyll. They multiply either asexually, sexually or both. Fungi interact with other organisms by either forming beneficial or natural associations or by causing serious infections.

Solving by using elimination methods, taking options and understanding them.

Parasite: They obtain their nutrients from a living host and finally harm that host. As parasitic fungi also live in or on other organisms and get their nutrients from their host.
Parasitic fungi use enzymes to break down living tissue, which may cause illness in the host, for example - Candida albicans carry infection to the human organism.

Saprophyte: They are the organisms that get their nutrition from dead organic matter such as dead leaves, animal bodies, debris etc. Fungi are saprophytes because they feed on organic remains by secreting digestive enzymes initially and then absorbing the digested material. Examples are- Mycorrhizal fungi.

Symbiont: It is a close relationship between two species in which at least one species benefits. Fungus are symbionts, as one species benefits. Fungus are symbionts, as many fungi are involved in close and long associations, which are mutually beneficial to both organisms.

Fungus cannot produce its own food and it is dependent on other sources for nutrition such as carbohydrates. They either rely on animals and plants or decaying organic matter. There are two kinds of heterotrophs such as organotrophs or lithotrophs.Thus, from above instances, it can be noted that fungi are parasitic, saphro-plastic and symbionts and therefore, option (D) All of the above, is the correct answer here.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: It is important to note that Fungi can use complex organic compounds for completing their energy requirements. Photosynthesis process is not performed by them. There are most of the fungi that produce spores which are basically the haploid cells undergoing mitosis in order to form multicellular haploid individuals.