Question

Which characteristic distinguishes fungal cells from plant cells

Answer 1

Answer: Feeding behaviors, trophic levels, cell wall composition, and their organelles distinguish fungi from plants.

Explanation:

While plants and fungi are both eukaryotes, they differ in terms of feeding behaviors, trophic levels, cell wall composition, and their organelles.

• Cell walls: both are non-chain polysaccharides (sugars) that function as structural support; yet fungal cell walls are composed of chitin while plant cell walls are made up of cellulose

• Feeding: fungi secrete compounds that digest their food sources before they can take in nutrients and they store food as glycogen; while plants do not require a means of pre-digesting food and store their food as starch.

• Organelles: plant cells contain chloroplasts, small green structures with chlorophyll that causes their characteristic coloration. Unlike plants, fungi do not photosynthesize to make their own food or contain chloroplasts.

• Trophic level: are strictly heterotrophs or decomposers, depending on other organisms for survival. Their chloroplasts enable them to carry out photosynthesis, thus they are autotrophs or producers.