Biology of Plants
Biology of Plants
8th Edition
ISBN: 9781429219617
Author: Evert, Ray F./
Publisher: Macmillan Higher Education
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Chapter 14, Problem 1CP
Summary Introduction

To describe: The characteristics of Fungi that differentiate them from other life forms.

Introduction: Fungi are heterotrophic organisms that include microbes like yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. They are cosmopolitan in distribution and can grow in extreme conditions like deserts and high salt concentrations. The study of fungi is known as “Mycology”.

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Fungi include multicellular eukaryotes that include many characters similar to animals than plants. The cell wall of fungi is made of a unique substance called chitin. This is absent in plants but is similar to the exoskeleton of some insects. In spite of being sedentary like plants, they are not autotrophs; they cannot make their own food and depend on external food resources. However, they cannot ingest food like animals but take their food by the process of absorption. This happens with the help of tiny root-hair like structures that penetrate the food surface and these root hairs release several digestive enzymes that help to break down the nutrients present in the food.

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