Definition of saprotroph in English:
saprotroph
noun ˈsaprə(ʊ)trəʊfsaprə(ʊ)ˈtrɒf-ˌträf
Biology An organism that feeds on or derives nourishment from decaying organic matter.
Example sentencesExamples
- In contrast to ciliates, Opalina combined large cell size and the need for fast growth by evolving numerous genetically equivalent nuclei per cell (like siphoneous algae and many hyphal saprotrophs - fungi and pseudofungi).
- Fungal endophytes and saprotrophs generally play an important ecological role within plant tissues and dead plant material.
Derivatives
adjective
Biology Those illustrated in Fig.4 resemble simple cord-forming, saprotrophic basidomycetes, which are involved in lignin decomposition (L. Boddy, pers. comm. 2001; work in progress).
Example sentencesExamples
- However, if no suitable photobiont is available, the mycobiont can survive in a loose association with other algae or behave as a saprotrophic fungus.
- The disease shows two distinct stages: a biotrophic and a necrotrophic / saprotrophic phase.
- Some saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi produce reproductive structures, preferably in slightly alkaline to neutral forest soil.
- Although fungi are thought of as saprotrophic or parasitic, more than one third of the known fungi are involved in mutualistic symbioses.
Origin
Back-formation from saprotrophic.