Saprotrophic nutrition

In fungi, the saprotrophic process is most often facilitated through the active transport of such materials through endocytosis within the internal mycelium and its constituent hyphae.

[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 as detritivore, detritophage, saprotroph, saprophyte, saprophage, and saprobe; their meanings overlap, although technical distinctions (based on physiologic mechanisms) narrow the senses.

These products are re-absorbed into the hypha through the cell wall by endocytosis and passed on throughout the mycelium complex.

[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.

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.