more fungi characteristics 3
fungi are heterotrophic ( “other feeding,” must feed on preformed organic material), not autotrophic ( “self feeding,” make their own food by photosynthesis).
Unlike animals (also heterotrophic), which ingest then digest, fungi digest then ingest.
Fungi produce exoenzymes to accomplish this
most fungi store their food as glycogen (like animals)--plants store food as starch
Notes:
These are even more of the characteristics that distinguish the kingdom Fungi from the other kingdoms.
Exoenzymes are found in fungi and some bacteria. They are digestive enzymes that are secreted into the environment, where they digest the food into small molecules that can be absorbed and used by the fungus.