How do plants and fungi differ in terms of nutrition?

The correct answer identifies a fundamental difference between plants and fungi regarding their nutritional modes. Plants are classified as autotrophic organisms, meaning they can produce their own food through photosynthesis. This process involves using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create glucose and oxygen. Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, captures light energy necessary for this process.

In contrast, fungi are heterotrophic, which means they cannot make their own food. Instead, they obtain nutrients by decomposing organic material. Fungi secrete enzymes into their environment that break down complex organic substances into simpler compounds, allowing them to absorb the nutrients they need for growth and metabolism. This difference in nutritional strategy is crucial for understanding the ecological roles of these organisms.

The other options do not accurately represent these distinctions. For instance, the notion that fungi make their own food using sunlight is incorrect as fungi lack chlorophyll and cannot perform photosynthesis. Similarly, the idea that both fungi and plants are autotrophic is inaccurate because the two organisms belong to different nutritional categories. Lastly, stating that plants absorb nutrients from decaying matter is misleading, as that is a process associated with fungi, which play a crucial role in nutrient cycling in ecosystems.