Practice question

Fungi lack chlorophyll, ingestive structures and phagocytic capability, thus acquire nutrients through extracellular digestion followed by absorption known as osmotrophy. Hyphae secrete potent hydrolytic enzymes such as cellulases, proteases and ligninases into substrate decomposing polymers into soluble monomers imported via active transport and facilitated diffusion. This mode supports saprotrophic, parasitic and mutualistic lifestyles recycling carbon. Ingestion characteristic of animals, photosynthesis of plants and algae, chemosynthesis of certain bacteria are incompatible with fungal physiology. Absorptive nutrition explains mycelial branching maximizing surface area for efficient acquisition.