of glutamate. Glutamine α Ketoglutaric acid Glutamate GOGAT (enzyme) NADH H NAD ( - oxoglutarate) (GOGAT- Glutamine- -Oxoglutarate aminotransferase) . Special modes of nutrition Nutrition is the process of uptake and utilization of nutrients by living organisms. There are two main types such as autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition.
Autotrophic nutrition is further divided into photosynthetic and chemosynthetic nutrition. Heterotrophic nutrition is further divided into saprophytic, parasitic, symbiotic and insectivorous type. In this topic you are going to learn about special mode of nutrition. .
. Saprophytic mode of nutrition in angiosperms Saprophytes derive nutrients from dead and decaying matter. Bacteria and fungus are main Glutamate NH Glutamine. Glutamine Synthetase (GS) ATP ADP Pi Atmospheric Nitrogen (N ) Plants Assimilation Nitrates (NO ) Decomposers (aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi) Nitrifying bacteria Nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria Nitrifying bacteria Denitrifying bacteria Ammonification (NH + ) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in legume root nodules Nitrites (NO ) Nitrification Ammonification _ _ Figure .
: Nitrogen Cycle ii. Partial root parasite : Example: Santalum album (Sandal wood tree) in its juvenile stage produces haustoria which grows on roots of many plants (Figure . ). Figure .
: Parasitic Mode of Nutrition . . Symbiotic mode of Nutrition a. Lichens : It is a mutual association of Algae and Fungi.
Algae prepares food and fungi absorbs water and provides thallus structure. b. Mycorrhizae : Fungi associated with roots of higher plants including Gymnosperms. Example: Pinus .
c. Rhizobium and Legumes : This symbiotic association fixes atmospheric nitrogen d. Cyanobacteria and Coralloid Roots : This association is found in Cycas where Nostoc associates with its coralloid roots. (Figure .
). Figure . : Symbiotic mode of nutrition . .
Insectivorous mode of nutrition Plants which are growing in nitrogen deficient areas develop insectivorous habit to resolve nitrogen deficiency. These plants obtain nitrogen from the insects a. Nepenthes (Pitcher plant): Pitcher is a modified leaf and contains digestive enzymes. Rim of the pitcher is provided with nectar glands and acts as an attractive saprophytic organisms.
Some angiosperms also follow saprophytic