Based on a resent question; what is the difference between a saprophyte and a saprotroph?
In Greek saprophyte would be saprós (“putrid; decayed; rotten”) and phyte ("plant") thus meaning a plant that will live of dead or decaying organic matter. Saprotroph on the other hand, would be saprós (“putrid; decayed; rotten”) and trophē (“food; nourishment”) and thus include all organism with this lifestyle.
It seems as if the term saprophyte would be incorrect as plants are in actuality not saprophytic. The same problem comes in with saprophytic vs saprotrophic. My concern is this, why were we taught that "saprophytic" or saprotrophic fungi are saprophytes as this would seem to be incorrect. Recent publications and textbooks still refer to saprophytes. Has the term saprophyte been abolished or regardless of the difference we now consider saprophyte and saprotroph as synonyms?
saprophyte is an older term now considered obsolete. The suffix -phyte means plan How ever there no true saprophytic organisms that are embryophytes, and fungi and bacteria are no longer placed in thew plant kingdom. Plants that were once considered saprophytes such as non-photosynthetic orchids and monotropes are now known to be parasites on fungi. these species are termed mycoheterotrophs.
To the best of my knowledge, these words are used interchangeably. Your argument is a valid one anyway.
Johannes,
Speaking about saprophyte, I would think first about organism living on "dead, rotten plant".
Alex
Dear Johannes,
Well, saprophyte is an obsolete term. If we take the definition of saprophyte: “an organism which gets its energy from dead and decaying organic matter”, it is clear that no plant (in strict modern sense) will suit this, as you correctly state. Saprophyte should not be used anymore.
With your logic, mycoflora is now obsolete too.
It is derived from Latin flos = flower.
Fungi certainly do not flower.
Greek φυτόν denotes every creature which has grown.
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.80:4:127.LSJ
It is derived from φύω .
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.80:4:152.LSJ
There exists no reason why to restrict its sense to what now is called plants.
That's right - term mycoflora is obsolete, too, for just the reason you showed. Term mycobiota is in use now.
Not too generally. Some recent examples.
http://www.mycoflora.org/
http://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/4/2/42
Article Biocide efficacy and consolidant effect on the mycoflora of ...
Article Mycoflora assessment, growth and toxigenic features of patul...
Article Monitoring of mycoflora in outdoor air of different localiti...
It is a question whether terms ought to be semantically logical.
I personally have nothing against mycobiota and intestinal microbiota except that they are not necessary. Everybody understands that neither mycoflora nor intestinal microflora consists of flowering plants.
It is a matter of agreement how we call concepts.
Well, you can also try some serious journal in mycology dealing with fungal taxonomy and ecology (some of Scopus or WoS list will do for the purpose) and look how many papers during the last decade use the term mycoflora. I've noticed that quite often papers dealing with lab experiments on fungi, biodeterioration or forestry issues (not to mention some official non-research sites) use obsolete terms, obsolete names and obsolete taxonomy. But is it really a good practice?
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your responses. Based on what was commented I told the undergrads that in essence the term saprophyte is obsolete and thus they need to preferably make use of the term saprotroph. However, to connect the past (errors and all) these terms should be seen as synonyms. Shouldn't there be a correction platform for these type of terms? Science today (understandably) still struggle to agree on definitions for terms like disease and pathogenicity. You would think a platform or board would have been established by now to concord on matters like these.
Dear Johannes,
Actually, there is a very good site which may serve this purpose. I recommend it for use. In mycology and expecially in lichenology we often turn to it when in doubt. It is called LIAS glossary: http://glossary.lias.net/wiki/ You can search and find for quite many mycological terms.
The use of the terms saprotroph/mycobiota is also connected with the recent effort to separate botany and mycology. Mycology is considered a neglected megascience and suffers from its affinity to botany in the last century. Lets separate both disciplines and use correct terminology : )
Saprophyte is obsolete for the simple fact that saprophyte is a nomenclature used for plants: "a plant that lives on dead organic matter". It is an ancient heritage of when fungi were considered plants. Saprotroph is the correct term.
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