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what is saprophytic mode of nutrition

Saprophytic organisms derive their food from decomposing dead organisms. The complex organic compounds become simpler in dead organisms when the decomposition sets in. they feed on substances which were once part of living organisms such as stored food, wood, leather and rotten plant products. The common examples of saprophtyes are fungi (moulds, mushrooms, yeasts) and many bacteria.
 Saprophytes secrete enzymes which are released on he substrate (i.e., the place on which they grow). These enzymes digest and break down the complex food material like starch into simpler ones. The soluble end product like sugar is then absorbed back by the saprophyte. This is called extracellular digestion. The saprophytic mode of nutrition can best be shown by the common bread mould, Rhizopus mucor (pin mould), Neurospora (pink bread mould), Morchella (sponge fungus) and Agaricus (mushrrom) also represent similar mode3 of nutrition.


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