What is the Mode of Nutrition in Fungi and Plasmodium?
February 27, 2023 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Fungi and Plasmodium have different modes of nutrition.
Fungi are heterotrophic organisms that obtain their nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their surroundings. They secrete digestive enzymes that break down complex organic molecules in their environment into simpler molecules, which can then be absorbed by the fungus. Fungi can obtain nutrients from a wide variety of sources, including dead plants and animals, soil, and other fungi.
Plasmodium, on the other hand, is a parasitic organism that causes malaria in humans. It has a complex life cycle that involves two hosts: humans and female Anopheles mosquitoes. Plasmodium obtains its nutrients from the host’s blood by infecting and multiplying within the host’s red blood cells. The parasite feeds on hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, and uses it as a source of nutrients.
In summary, fungi obtain their nutrients through a heterotrophic mode of nutrition by absorbing organic matter from their surroundings, while Plasmodium obtains its nutrients as a parasite by feeding on the host’s blood.