Modes of Nutrition in Plants
Plants obtain their food through different modes of nutrition. The two main types are autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition.
What is Autotrophic Nutrition?
Autotrophic nutrition is a mode of nutrition in which organisms prepare their own food using simple inorganic substances like carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. This process is known as photosynthesis.
Why Are Plants Called Autotrophs?
Plants are called autotrophs because they can synthesize their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water through photosynthesis. They do not depend on other organisms for their nutrition.
What is Heterotrophic Nutrition?
Heterotrophic nutrition is a mode of nutrition in which organisms cannot make their own food and depend on other organisms for nourishment. These organisms obtain their food by consuming plants or other living beings.
Which Plants Cannot Make Their Own Food?
Certain plants lack chlorophyll and cannot perform photosynthesis. They depend on other organisms for food. Examples include:
- Cuscuta (Amarbel) – A parasitic plant that derives nutrients from a host plant.
- Mushrooms (Fungi) – These are saprophytic and obtain food from dead and decaying matter.
- Venus Flytrap & Pitcher Plant – Carnivorous plants that trap insects for additional nutrients.
What Are the Different Modes of Heterotrophic Nutrition in Plants?
Heterotrophic plants follow different modes of nutrition, such as:
- Parasitic Nutrition – Plants like Cuscuta (Dodder) attach to a host plant and absorb nutrients from it.
- Saprophytic Nutrition – Plants like Mushrooms and Moulds feed on dead and decaying organic matter.
- Insectivorous Nutrition – Plants like Venus Flytrap, Pitcher Plant, and Sundew trap and digest insects to obtain essential nutrients.
- Symbiotic Nutrition – Some plants, like lichens, form a mutual relationship with fungi and algae, where both benefit from each other.