Explain Saprotrophs
What are saprotrophs?
Explain Saprotrophs
Saprotrophs, also known as saprophytes or decomposers, are organisms that cannot make their food and instead are dependent on other non-living organisms and dead and decaying matter for their food. Saprophytes feed with the process called absorptive nutrition or saprophytic nutrition, where the dead and decaying food is digested by the enzyme secreted by the saprotroph. The enzyme converts the non-living organisms into simpler molecules, which are then absorbed by the cells. A saprophyte is also helpful to the ecosystem as it decomposes the bodies of dead and decaying organisms and recycles and releases nutrients into the environment, making them available for other organisms to use. During saprophytic nutrition, proteins are digested into amino acids, starch is digested into simpler sugars, and fats are broken into fatty acids. Saprotrophs interact with the environment at the microscopic level. These organisms are considered very important in the process of nutrient cycling, decomposition of organic matter, and breaking down the complex organic matter into simpler substances that are taken up by the plants for various metabolic activities. Saprophytes require suitable conditions for their growth. They need sufficient water and oxygen for their growth and cannot grow in anaerobic conditions(lack of oxygen). They grow well in slightly acid aur neutral condition.
The saprophytes grow through the tubular and filamentous structure called the hyphae that grows and branches into the dead matter and secretes a digestive enzyme that absorbs its nutrients.
For example, ‘lignin,’ one of the major materials found in plant cell walls, is not digestible by plant-eating animals or useable by plants unless broken down into its various components, mainly complex sugars. Certain saprophytic fungi can reduce lignin into useful compounds.
Types saprophytes organisms :-
1. Saprophytic fungi: Fungi that are dependent on dead and decaying organisms for their nutrition
Eg-mushrooms, yeast, penicillium.
2. Saprophytic bacteria: Bacteria that are dependent on dead and decaying matter for their nutrition.
E.g., slime moulds, lactobacillus, bacillus stearuothermophilus
3. Saprophytic flowering plants: Plants that are dependent on other dead and decaying organisms for their nutrition.
Eg, Indian plant, burmannia, and Corallorhiza orchids.
4. Saprophytic algae: Algae that lack chlorophyll, like the member of the genus ‘Polytoma,’ and are dependent on other dead and decaying matter for their nutrition.
Features of saprophytes:-
1. They cannot perform photosynthesis due to the absence of chlorophyll.
2. They grow from filamentous structures called hyphae.
3. They play a very important role in soil biology.
4. Saprophytes are hetrotropic.
5. They do not have stems, leaves, or roots.
– Written By Kumari
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