Saprophyte is an organism that depends on dead plant or animal tissue for a source of nutrition and metabolic energy. Which ot the following is the most appropriate definition of a fungus?

Options

A. Eukaryotic multicellular heterotroph
B. Parasitic, eukaryotic plant
C. Saprophytic plants
D. Saprophytic heterotroph

Answer

To determine the most appropriate definition of a fungus based on the provided information, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Definition of a Saprophyte**:
- A saprophyte is an organism that derives its nutrition from dead organic matter, such as dead plants or animals. This means that saprophytes play a crucial role in the ecosystem by decomposing dead material.

2. **Identify Characteristics of Fungi**:
- Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, meaning their cells have a nucleus and other organelles.
- They can be unicellular (like yeast) or multicellular (like molds and mushrooms).
- Fungi are heterotrophic, which means they cannot produce their own food and must obtain it from other sources.

3. **Evaluate the Options**:
- **Option 1**: "Fungus is eukaryotic." - This is true, but it does not fully define fungi.
- **Option 2**: "Fungus is multicellular." - This is incorrect because fungi can also be unicellular.
- **Option 3**: "Fungus is a parasitic eukaryotic plant." - This is incorrect as fungi are not classified as plants.
- **Option 4**: "Saprophyte heterotroph." - This is correct because fungi are often saprophytic heterotrophs, meaning they obtain their nutrients from decomposing organic matter.

4. **Select the Correct Definition**:
- Based on the evaluation, the most appropriate definition of a fungus is "saprophyte heterotroph," as it accurately describes the nutritional mode of fungi.

### Final Answer:
The most appropriate definition of a fungus is **"saprophyte heterotroph."**

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