Question

When fungi feed on dead organic matter, they are known as
A. Dimorphic
B. Parasites
C. Saprophytes
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Fungi is the largest group after angiosperms. They have more than one lakh species. The study of fungi is known as mycology. The father of mycology is P.A. Micheli. The father of Indian mycology is E.J. Butler. They do not possess photosynthetic pigments.

Complete answer: Fungi are non-green, thalloid and heterotrophic organisms because they do not have the presence of chlorophyll or chloroplasts. Their body is not well-differentiated into roots, stems and leaves. They cannot synthesize their own food and so, they depend on other organisms for it. They prefer to grow in warm, damp and humid places. Fungi mostly grow in the organic-rich substratum. Some fungi also prefer to grow in dung, hair, bark etc. Fungi that grow in dung are known as coprophilous. Fungi growing on hair are known as keratinophilic, whereas fungi growing on the bark are known as xylophilous. Fungi have a unicellular or filamentous body. Their mode of nutrition is saprophytic. This is because they derive their nutrition from dead and decaying organic matter. And saprophytic nutrition is the one in which the food is obtained from dead and decaying organic substances. Thus, based on the above information we can conclude that when fungi feed on dead organic matter, and hence, they are known as saprophytes.
Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note: Fungi are considered closer to plants even though they cannot synthesize or prepare their own food due to the presence of a cell wall. The cell wall of fungi is made up of Chitin mostly. However, some fungi also have a cellulosic cell wall.