Heterotrophic nutrition

    

                         Heterotrophic nutrition in plants

  Heterotrophic nutrition is a type of nutrition in which organisms depend upon other organisms for food to survive. Heterotrophic organisms have to take in all the organic substances they need to survive. All animals, fungi, and non photosynthesizing plants  are heterotrophic. 

  Some plants do not contain chlorophyll and depend on other plants for their food through the heterotrophic mode of nutrition. These type of nutrition in plants are referred to as Heterotrophic nutrition in plants, hence are called parasites.

Heterotrophic Plants

Listed below are different types of heterotrophic plants that are mainly classified based on their mode of nutrition:

• Parasitic

• Insectivorous

• Saprophytic

• Symbiotic

Parasitic Nutrition

Some heterotrophic plants depend on other plants and animals for nutrition. Such plants are known as parasitic plants. However, the host is not benefitted from the parasite.

For eg., Cuscuta, Cassytha

Insectivorous Nutrition

Some plants have special structural features that help them to trap insects and are commonly known as carnivorous or heterotrophic plants. These plants digest the insects by secreting digestive juices and absorb the nutrients from them. These plants grow on the soil that lacks minerals.

For eg., Pitcher plant, Venus flytrap

Saprophytic Nutrition

The saprophytic plants derive nutrition from dead and decaying plants and animals. They dissolve the dead and decaying matter by secreting digestive juices and absorb the nutrients.

For eg., mushrooms, moulds.

Symbiotic Nutrition

When two different plants belonging to two different categories show a close association, they are termed as symbiotic. In this, both the plants are benefitted from each other.

For eg., the association of fungi and trees.