Can Fungi Grow Without Sunlight?

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That depends.", "duration" : "PT2M12S", "contentUrl" : "//content.jwplatform.com/videos/P2cnRGjx-Qc3NyWj4.mp4", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://cdn.britannica.com/14/253814-138-42B6A52C/mushroom-fungi-photosynthesize-sunlight.jpg", "transcript" : "Mushrooms are fungi, a group of organisms that also includes yeasts, molds, and mildews\u2014species that can thrive in shadow and the forgotten corners of your pantry.\rAnd while many fungi actually live in sunny spots, they don\u2019t need light in the same way that plants do. Unlike plants, fungi don\u2019t photosynthesize\u2014they don\u2019t use chlorophyll to convert light into chemical energy. Light, then, isn\u2019t their primary source of food or energy.\rSo what is a mushroom\u2019s source of energy? Generally, the answer is organic matter. Mushrooms are heterotrophs, meaning they get their nutrients from other organisms instead of producing their own food. In this way, mushrooms are one step up the food chain from plants.\rMushrooms secure their food by secreting enzymes into the surface they\u2019re growing on, whether that\u2019s a tree or the forest floor or elsewhere. The enzymes digest the food, which is then absorbed through the cell walls. \rWhat is food for a mushroom? That depends. Most mushrooms are saprotrophic: they eat dead organic material, such as fallen tree branches or leaves. Some, though, are parasitic: they eat living organisms, such as growing plants. \rSaprotrophic fungi are largely responsible for the decomposition of organic matter. They break down dead plants and animals, converting their food into nutrients that are then released into the soil\u2014which supports the growth of plants, which might later be eaten by fungi, starting the cycle all over again. \rThough mushrooms don\u2019t use sunlight like plants do, light can still be useful for some fungi.\rLight triggers some types of mushrooms to grow long stems and produce larger fruit, or mushroom caps. \rSpecies that might be helped along by some light include shiitake, oyster, and white button mushrooms all edible varieties you might find on your dinner table.", "width" : 1920, "height" : 1080, "url": "https://www.britannica.com/video/mushroom-fungi-photosynthesize-sunlight/-298215" } </script> </head> <body data-leg="B" class="standalone-video-page user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-b b-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='cafemedia';</script> <script data-no-optimize="1" data-cfasync="false"> (function(w, d) { w.adthrive = w.adthrive || {}; w.adthrive.cmd = w. adthrive.cmd || []; w.adthrive.plugin = 'adthrive-ads-manual'; w.adthrive.host = 'ads.adthrive.com';var s = d.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.referrerpolicy='no-referrer-when-downgrade'; s.src = 'https://' + w.adthrive.host + '/sites/61575e5c934c481d714b3ca9/ads.min.js?referrer=' + w.encodeURIComponent(w.location.href) + '&cb=' + (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) + 1); var n = d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n); })(window, document); </script> <div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. 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That depends. </div> <div class="vpwpl-credit mb-20 font-13 text-gray-600 font-italic "> Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. </div> </div> <ul class=" col-100 vpwpl-playlist-below vpwpl-playlist mt-15 mt-md-0"> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-1 vpwpl-video-item video-playing" data-assemblyid="298215"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/14/253814-138-42B6A52C/mushroom-fungi-photosynthesize-sunlight.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/P2cnRGjx.m3u8"}],"assetId":253814,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/FY5r62sn.m3u8","title":"Do mushrooms need sunlight?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/c0tDffD4.vtt","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/mushroom-fungi-photosynthesize-sunlight/-298215#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">What is food for a mushroom? That depends.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/mushroom-fungi-photosynthesize-sunlight/-298215" >Do mushrooms need sunlight?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/mushroom-fungi-photosynthesize-sunlight/-298215"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/253814-138-42B6A52C/mushroom-fungi-photosynthesize-sunlight.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Do mushrooms need sunlight?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-2 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="280947"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/82/240882-138-374A6B38/Which-of-These-Mushrooms-Could-Kill-You.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/EBZNNyen.m3u8"}],"assetId":240882,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/GeLDCNoj.m3u8","title":"poisonous mushrooms","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/Qjxi2ifA","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Which-of-These-Mushrooms-Could-Kill-You/-280947#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">© American Chemical Society (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Poisonous mushrooms.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Which-of-These-Mushrooms-Could-Kill-You/-280947" >poisonous mushrooms</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Which-of-These-Mushrooms-Could-Kill-You/-280947"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/82/240882-138-374A6B38/Which-of-These-Mushrooms-Could-Kill-You.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="poisonous mushrooms" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-3 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="108799"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/97/81497-138-80A79DB1/pathogens-plants-corn-smut-diseases-crops-losses.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/1noWJmac.m3u8"}],"assetId":81497,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/gVVJPJJa.m3u8","title":"See how smut fungus destroys corn smut","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/tF0skN5U","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/pathogens-plants-corn-smut-diseases-crops-losses/-108799#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Some fungi are important pathogens of plants that cause diseases such as corn smut, which results in significant losses of corn crops each year.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/pathogens-plants-corn-smut-diseases-crops-losses/-108799" >See how smut fungus destroys corn smut</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/pathogens-plants-corn-smut-diseases-crops-losses/-108799"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/81497-138-80A79DB1/pathogens-plants-corn-smut-diseases-crops-losses.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="See how smut fungus destroys corn smut" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-4 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="208011"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/88/187688-138-C441187F/fungi-forest-ecosystem-plant-matter-relationships-plants.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/sQbE03DS.m3u8"}],"assetId":187688,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/9mY24ofM.m3u8","title":"Know about the role of fungi in the forest ecosystem, where some digest plant matter, while others team with the plant (mycorrhizal) mutually","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/YC2FErxo","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/fungi-forest-ecosystem-plant-matter-relationships-plants/-208011#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">© Open University (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Learn about fungi in the forest ecosystem, including how some fungi digest plant matter (saprotrophism), while others form mutualistic (mycorrhizal) relationships with plants.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/fungi-forest-ecosystem-plant-matter-relationships-plants/-208011" >Know about the role of fungi in the forest ecosystem, where some digest plant matter, while others team with the plant (mycorrhizal) mutually</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/fungi-forest-ecosystem-plant-matter-relationships-plants/-208011"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/187688-138-C441187F/fungi-forest-ecosystem-plant-matter-relationships-plants.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Know about the role of fungi in the forest ecosystem, where some digest plant matter, while others team with the plant (mycorrhizal) mutually" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-5 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="226227"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/97/195497-138-29620BEB/strategies-Pilobolus-fungi-genus.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/pWMI3zJz.m3u8"}],"assetId":195497,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/rXI1ImUm.m3u8","title":"Why are <em>Pilobolus<\/em> fungi called \u201chat-throwers\u201d?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/alDjIftD","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/strategies-Pilobolus-fungi-genus/-226227#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Learn about the unique reproductive strategies of the fungi genus <em>Pilobolus</em>.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/strategies-Pilobolus-fungi-genus/-226227" >Why are <em>Pilobolus</em> fungi called “hat-throwers”?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/strategies-Pilobolus-fungi-genus/-226227"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/195497-138-29620BEB/strategies-Pilobolus-fungi-genus.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Why are Pilobolus fungi called “hat-throwers”?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-6 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="161597"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/91/152191-138-A909F856/ecosystems-components-organisms-consumers-producers-plants-harness.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/9XdwXdID.m3u8"}],"assetId":152191,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/8Cuxz6Lk.m3u8","title":"Discern between self-sustaining autotrophs and consumer heterotrophs and find their places in the food chain","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/aoHPq01W","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/ecosystems-components-organisms-consumers-producers-plants-harness/-161597#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">The basic components of ecosystems. Most ecosystems contain organisms that are producers (autotrophs), such as plants, that harness energy from the Sun, or consumers (heterotrophs) that feed on producers or other consumers. In a food chain made up of grasses, rabbits, and hawks, the grasses are the producers, and the rabbits and hawks are the consumers.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/ecosystems-components-organisms-consumers-producers-plants-harness/-161597" >Discern between self-sustaining autotrophs and consumer heterotrophs and find their places in the food chain</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/ecosystems-components-organisms-consumers-producers-plants-harness/-161597"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/152191-138-A909F856/ecosystems-components-organisms-consumers-producers-plants-harness.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Discern between self-sustaining autotrophs and consumer heterotrophs and find their places in the food chain" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-7 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="301706"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/20/253820-138-C46003E9/fungi-plant-comparison-mushroom-mushrooms-decomposers.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/A1ssRSE9.m3u8"}],"assetId":253820,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/xS3Sq2pG.m3u8","title":"Are fungi plants?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/0MplFqvI.vtt","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/fungi-plant-comparison-mushroom-mushrooms-decomposers/-301706#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">There are fungus among us. How well do we understand them?</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/fungi-plant-comparison-mushroom-mushrooms-decomposers/-301706" >Are fungi plants?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/fungi-plant-comparison-mushroom-mushrooms-decomposers/-301706"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/253820-138-C46003E9/fungi-plant-comparison-mushroom-mushrooms-decomposers.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Are fungi plants?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-8 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="164645"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/21/153021-138-480FDB6F/role-fungi-decomposition-forest-litter.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/7nFSDdAW.m3u8"}],"assetId":153021,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/SYIy8g2t.m3u8","title":"The role of fungi in forest decomposition","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/fhMmUOqV","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/role-fungi-decomposition-forest-litter/-164645#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">The role of fungi in the decomposition of forest litter.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/role-fungi-decomposition-forest-litter/-164645" >The role of fungi in forest decomposition</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/role-fungi-decomposition-forest-litter/-164645"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/153021-138-480FDB6F/role-fungi-decomposition-forest-litter.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="The role of fungi in forest decomposition" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-9 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="185720"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/61/172461-138-097C4999/video-mushroom-fly-agaric-Neil-Bromhall-properties.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/dRUfKOqe.m3u8"}],"assetId":172461,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/VwEgrDHq.m3u8","title":"Witness the growing and dying of the fly agaric","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/T6Yi3Wrq","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/video-mushroom-fly-agaric-Neil-Bromhall-properties/-185720#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Video by Neil Bromhall; music, Musopen.org (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Time-lapse video, filmed by Neil Bromhall, of the growing and dying of the fly agaric (<em>Amanita muscaria</em>), a poisonous mushroom famous for its hallucinogenic properties.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/video-mushroom-fly-agaric-Neil-Bromhall-properties/-185720" >Witness the growing and dying of the fly agaric</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/video-mushroom-fly-agaric-Neil-Bromhall-properties/-185720"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/172461-138-097C4999/video-mushroom-fly-agaric-Neil-Bromhall-properties.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Witness the growing and dying of the fly agaric" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="related-topics mt-20 font-14 text-muted"> <strong>Related Articles:</strong> <span id="related-articles"> <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chanterelle">chanterelle</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/community-ecology">community ecology</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/death-cap">death cap</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fly-agaric">fly agaric</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fungus">fungus</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/heterotroph">heterotroph</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/matsutake">matsutake mushroom</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mildew">mildew</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mushroom">mushroom</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/parasitism">parasitism</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/saprotroph">saprotroph</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/shiitake-mushroom">shiitake mushroom</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Lentinula">Lentinula</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/portobello-mushroom">portobello mushroom</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/king-oyster-mushroom">king oyster mushroom</a> </span> </div> <hr class="my-30 col-100"> <h2 class="font-16 text-uppercase my-30">Transcript</h2> <div id ="transcript" class="lh-lg font-serif"> Mushrooms are fungi, a group of organisms that also includes yeasts, molds, and mildews—species that can thrive in shadow and the forgotten corners of your pantry. And while many fungi actually live in sunny spots, they don’t need light in the same way that plants do. Unlike plants, fungi don’t photosynthesize—they don’t use chlorophyll to convert light into chemical energy. Light, then, isn’t their primary source of food or energy. So what is a mushroom’s source of energy? Generally, the answer is organic matter. Mushrooms are heterotrophs, meaning they get their nutrients from other organisms instead of producing their own food. In this way, mushrooms are one step up the food chain from plants. Mushrooms secure their food by secreting enzymes into the surface they’re growing on, whether that’s a tree or the forest floor or elsewhere. The enzymes digest the food, which is then absorbed through the cell walls. What is food for a mushroom? That depends. Most mushrooms are saprotrophic: they eat dead organic material, such as fallen tree branches or leaves. Some, though, are parasitic: they eat living organisms, such as growing plants. Saprotrophic fungi are largely responsible for the decomposition of organic matter. They break down dead plants and animals, converting their food into nutrients that are then released into the soil—which supports the growth of plants, which might later be eaten by fungi, starting the cycle all over again. Though mushrooms don’t use sunlight like plants do, light can still be useful for some fungi. Light triggers some types of mushrooms to grow long stems and produce larger fruit, or mushroom caps. Species that might be helped along by some light include shiitake, oyster, and white button mushrooms all edible varieties you might find on your dinner table.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <footer class="md-footer footer-wrapper hide-on-edit"> <div class="footer-bck"> <DIV class="marketing-FOOTER_NEWSLETTER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="FOOTER_NEWSLETTER"><div class="md-footer-newsletter-form pt-10 mb-30 mx-15 mx-sm-120"> <div class="font-18"> <strong>History at your fingertips –</strong> Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! </div> <div class="p-30"> <div class="newsletter-form-container"> <form class="newsletter-form" method="post" action="/newsletter-subscription/EB_ON_THIS_DAY"> <div class="form-group grid d-flex justify-content-center"> <div class="col-sm-50 col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="enter-your-email">Enter your email</label> <input id="enter-your-email" type="email" name="email" class="form-control font-18 p-10" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" required> </div> <div class="col-sm-auto col-100 mt-5 mt-sm-0"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-outline-white" style="width: 100%; height:100%;">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="text-white pt-30 text-opacity"> By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.<br> Click here to view our <a class="link-white text-decoration-underline" href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Notice</a>. 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