No, fungi are not photosynthetic.
Unlike plants, fungi cannot create their own food using sunlight through photosynthesis. Instead, they rely on other methods to obtain energy.
Here's a breakdown of how fungi get their nutrients:
- Digestion: Most fungi secrete enzymes into their environment. These enzymes break down organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into smaller, absorbable molecules.
- Absorption: The fungi then absorb these broken-down molecules for energy and growth. This process is called heterotrophic nutrition, meaning they obtain their energy from other sources.
| Feature | Fungi | Plants |
|---|---|---|
| Photosynthesis | No | Yes |
| Energy Source | Organic matter (decomposers/saprotrophs) | Sunlight |
| Nutrition Type | Heterotrophic | Autotrophic |
As stated in a reference, "unlike plants, fungi are unable to source their energy from the sun via photosynthesis. Instead, most fungi (except for lichens) release enzymes into the environment that digest organic matter and then absorb it." (31-Oct-2019)
Key Differences:
- Plants: Use chlorophyll to capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy (sugars). They are autotrophs, meaning they create their own food.
- Fungi: Lack chlorophyll and rely on absorbing nutrients from other sources. They are heterotrophs, meaning they obtain their food from other organic material.
Exceptions:
- **Lichens:** Although lichens are sometimes mistaken for fungi, they are actually composite organisms involving a symbiotic partnership between a fungus and either an alga or a cyanobacterium. The algal or cyanobacterial part *can* perform photosynthesis and provides nutrients to the fungal partner. But this does not make the fungus, on its own, photosynthetic.
Therefore, fungi are primarily decomposers and absorbers, playing an essential role in ecosystems, but they do not possess the capability of photosynthesis.
