These fungi decompose, or break down, dead plant and animal matter. These broken-down products become the foods of other living things. Without saprophytes, dead plants and animals would litter and pollute the earth. Structure of Fungi Fungi have several types of structures. Hyphae produce special chemicals called enzymes.
Enzymes digest, or break down, the cells of living or dead organisms.
The broken-down cells and their chemicals are used by fungi as food. Fungi absorb food through the walls of the hyphae. Most fungi reproduce by means of spores. Spores are small reproductive cells. Spores are contained in special fruiting bodies.