Question

Explain the parasitic mode of nutrition. Give two examples and mention why they are parasitic. [5 MARKS]

Answer 1

Parasitic nutrition:

1. Parasitic mode of nutrition is where an organism (parasite) lives on the body surface or inside the body of another type of organism (host).
   
2. The parasite obtains nutrition directly from the body of the host and in turn harm the host.
   
3. This type of nutrition comes under heterotrophic nutrition and in this interaction one organism (parasite) benefits while the other organism (host) gets affected.​
   

Examples:

1. Cuscuta is a parasitic plant which develops special roots called haustoria.
   
2. They are non-green and they derive nourishment by using their haustoria to gain access to the food and water conducting tissues of the host plant.
3. Mistletoe is also a parasitic plant which derives nourishment by gaining access to the vascular tissue of the host plant.