saprotrophic nutrition
thumb|right|Mycelial cord of fungi made up of a collection of [[hyphae; an essential part in the process of saprotrophic nutrition, it is used for the intake of organic matter through its cell wall. The network of hyphae (the mycelium) is fundamental to fungal nutrition.]]
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Process
- Conditions
- See also
- References
- Citations
- General and cited references
- Further reading
thumb|right|Mycelial cord of fungi made up of a collection of [[hyphae; an essential part in the process of saprotrophic nutrition, it is used for the intake of organic matter through its cell wall. The network of hyphae (the mycelium) is fundamental to fungal nutrition.]]
A saprotroph is an organism that feeds on dead organic matter or waste by excreting chemicals to digest it, rather than eating it directly (as detritivores do). It is most often performed by fungi (e.g. Mucor) and soil bacteria. Microscopic saprotrophs are sometimes called saprobes. In fungi, saprotrophic digestion is usually done by actively transporting such materials through endocytosis within the internal mycelium and its constituent hyphae.