Question

Fungi show extracellular digestion but they don't have an alimentary canal as in humans so how?

Answer 1

Fungi:

Fungi are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms with heterotrophic mode of nutrition. They are mainly decomposers or parasites.

Extracellular digestion in fungi:

1. Extracellular digestion means breaking down of food molecules outside the cell either with the help of enzymes or mechanically.
2. Fungi secrete digestive enzymes on their food, breaking down the food into smaller components and later on, the fungi absorb the food.
3. The extracellular sources of organic matter that the fungi use for the maintenance of their body and growth include simple sugars, complex carbohydrates, polypeptides, etc.
4. Fungi generally use their cell wall for this purpose.
5. Due to this external digestion of food by enzymes, fungi do not have any digestive system or alimentary canal such as humans.