Question

What is saprophytic nutrition?

Answer 1

Saprophytic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed organic matter.

Explanation:

As organic matter decomposes within a medium in which a saprotroph is residing, the saprotroph breaks it into its composites.
- proteins are broken down to amino acids due to the breakdown of peptide bonds by proteases.
- lipids are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol by lipases.
- starch is broken down into disaccharides by amylases.

These products are re absorbed into the hypha through the cell wall, via endocytosis and passed on through out the mycelium complex. This facilitates the passage of such materials through out the organism and allows for growth and repair.

This occurs in saprotrophs and heterotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi and soil bacteria.