Biology · Biological Classification · NEET
No fungus makes its own food. Fungi have no chlorophyll, so they cannot do photosynthesis. NCERT says fungi are heterotrophic and absorb soluble organic matter from outside. So the answer is: every true fungus is heterotrophic. Only the 'mode' of feeding changes (dead, living, or partner).
Saprophyte = feeds on DEAD organic matter and decomposes it (example: bread mould, mushrooms on a log). Parasite = feeds on a LIVING plant or animal and harms it (example: rusts, smuts, Puccinia). Symbiont = lives WITH a partner and both benefit (example: lichen = fungus + alga; mycorrhiza = fungus + plant root). Easy line: Dead, Alive, Together.
A fungus has thread-like hyphae. It releases digestive enzymes onto the food outside its body. The enzymes break the food into small soluble bits. Then the hyphae absorb these soluble bits. This is called 'extracellular digestion followed by absorption'. That is why NCERT says fungi 'absorb soluble organic matter'.
Mycorrhiza is a SYMBIONT, not a parasite. It is a mutually useful (mutualistic) association between a fungus and the roots of a higher plant. The fungus gives the plant water and minerals; the plant gives the fungus sugars. Both gain, so it is symbiosis. If the fungus only took and harmed the plant, then it would be a parasite.
Lichens are NOT saprophytes. A lichen is a symbiotic association between an alga and a fungus. The alga (phycobiont) makes food by photosynthesis; the fungus (mycobiont) gives shelter, water and minerals. Both benefit, so lichen = symbiont. This exact pairing is asked in NEET (2016, 2026).
Not always. A parasite lives ON or IN a living host and takes food from it, causing harm or disease. Many plant diseases like rusts and smuts are caused by parasitic fungi. The host is weakened but may not die at once. The key point for NEET: parasite = depends on a LIVING host, saprophyte = depends on a DEAD one.
Match Column I with Column II: Column I: (a) Saprophyte (b) Parasite (c) Lichens (d) Mycorrhiza Column II: (i) Symbiotic association of fungi with plant roots (ii) Decomposition of dead organic materials (iii) Living on living plants or animals (iv) Symbiotic association of algae and fungi
Symbiotic association between fungi and algae are called ________.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Because many fungi are saprophytes. They feed on dead plants and animals and break them down into simple substances. This recycles nutrients back into the soil, which is why fungi are important decomposers in nature.
Most common mushrooms are saprophytes. They grow on dead logs, dung or dead leaves and absorb food from that dead matter. Some fungi, however, are parasites on living plants.
In symbiosis both partners benefit (lichen, mycorrhiza). In parasitism only one benefits and the host is harmed. Both involve living together, but the outcome for the host is the key difference.
No. NEET 2024 tested this. The classes of fungi (Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, etc.) are based on mycelium morphology, mode of spore formation and fruiting bodies — NOT on mode of nutrition.
The algal partner, called the phycobiont, does photosynthesis and makes food. The fungal partner (mycobiont) provides shelter, water and minerals. This is a classic NEET fact.
