**Fungi: Heterotrophic or Autotrophic?**

Fungi are heterotrophic organisms, meaning they obtain their nutrients by consuming organic matter from their environment. Unlike autotrophic organisms such as plants, fungi cannot produce their own food through photosynthesis. Instead, they rely on external sources for their nutrition.

**Heterotrophic Nature of Fungi:**

1. Absorptive Nutrition: Fungi obtain nutrients by external digestion and absorption. They release enzymes into their surroundings, which break down complex organic molecules into simpler forms that can be absorbed by the fungi.

2. Saprophytic Lifestyle: Many fungi are saprophytes, which means they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. They play a crucial role in the decomposition process, breaking down dead organisms and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

3. Parasitic Lifestyle: Some fungi are parasites, deriving nutrients from living organisms. They invade and colonize the tissues of their host, causing diseases in plants, animals, and even humans.

4. Mutualistic Relationships: Fungi also form mutualistic associations with other organisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants. In these associations, fungi provide the plants with essential nutrients, while the plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates.

**NEET Previous Year Questions (2016-22): Biological Classification**

This question is related to the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam, specifically the topic of Biological Classification. The NEET exam is a competitive medical entrance examination in India.

1. Importance of Biological Classification: Biological classification is the process of categorizing living organisms into various groups based on their characteristics and evolutionary relationships. It helps in understanding the diversity of life, organizing information, and predicting the properties of organisms.

2. Classification Hierarchy: The classification hierarchy consists of various levels, including kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Organisms are grouped into these categories based on their shared characteristics.

3. Five Kingdom Classification: The five-kingdom classification system, proposed by Robert Whittaker, categorizes organisms into five major groups: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. Fungi are classified as a separate kingdom due to their unique characteristics.

4. Characteristics of Fungi: Fungi are eukaryotic, spore-bearing organisms that lack chlorophyll. They have cell walls made of chitin, and their body consists of thread-like structures called hyphae. Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually.

5. Kingdom Fungi: The kingdom Fungi includes diverse organisms such as mushrooms, yeasts, molds, and mildews. It is estimated that there are around 1.5 million species of fungi, although only a fraction of them have been identified.

In conclusion, fungi are heterotrophic organisms that obtain their nutrients from external sources. They play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, and their classification is an important topic in the NEET exam.

Fungi is a hetrotrophic plant.They depend their food for another organism.