 | This article's lead sectionmay be too technical for most readers to understand. Pleasehelp improve it tomake it understandable to non-experts.(February 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Saprotrophic nutrition/sæprəˈtrɒfɪk,-proʊ-/[1] orlysotrophic nutrition[2][3] is a process ofchemoheterotrophicextracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste)organic matter. It occurs insaprotrophs (organisms which feed on decaying organic matter), and is most often associated withfungi (e.g.Mucor) and with soilbacteria. Saprotrophic microscopic fungi are sometimes calledsaprobes.[4] Saprotrophic plants orbacterial flora are calledsaprophytes (sapro- 'rotten material' +-phyte 'plant'), although it is now believed[citation needed] that all plants previously thought to be saprotrophic are in factparasites of microscopic fungi or ofother plants. In fungi, the saprotrophic process is most often facilitated through theactive transport of such materials throughendocytosis within the internalmycelium and its constituenthyphae.[5]
Various word roots relating to decayed matter (detritus,sapro-,lyso-), to eating and nutrition (-vore,-phage,-troph), and to plants or life forms (-phyte,-obe) produce various terms, such asdetritivore, detritophage, saprotroph,saprophyte, saprophage, and saprobe; their meanings overlap, although technical distinctions (based onphysiologic mechanisms) narrow thesenses. For example, biologists can makeusage distinctions based on macroscopic swallowing of detritus (as inearthworms) versus microscopiclysis of detritus (as withmushrooms).
As matter decomposes within a medium in which a saprotroph is residing, the saprotroph breaks such matter down into its composites.
These products are re-absorbed into the hypha through the cell wall byendocytosis and passed on throughout the mycelium complex. This facilitates the passage of such materials throughout the organism and allows for growth and, if necessary, repair.[5]
In order for a saprotrophic organism to facilitate optimal growth and repair, favourable conditions and nutrients must be present.[7] Optimal conditions refers to several conditions which optimise the growth of saprotrophic organisms, such as;
The majority of nutrients taken in by such organisms must be able to provide carbon, proteins, vitamins and, in some cases,ions. Due to the carbon composition of the majority of organisms, dead and organic matter provide rich sources of disaccharides andpolysaccharides such asmaltose andstarch, and of the monosaccharideglucose.[5]
