What are fungi that break down dead tissues called?

need for trivia science class.What are fungi that break down dead tissues called?
The only term I know is decomposer, pretty much all fungi and some animals like vultures and other scavangers fall into this catagory.What are fungi that break down dead tissues called?
saprophyte
Ferret is right...Here is a link that should help you with your question.. Read the article and you should extract what you need to know..


http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/…





Although some fungi are troublesome to plants and people, there also are very important groups of fungi that are beneficial. One group is referred to as the decomposer fungi. These fungi help break down dead plant material.
they are called SAPROTROPHS..........it is fungi that break down dead tissues like in leaves for example.
Fungi that break down dead tissue are called saprophytes or saprotrophs.





sap·ro·phyte (sāp'rə-fīt') Pronunciation Key


n. An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that grows on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.





sapro- or sapr-


pref.


Decay; putrefaction; decomposition: saprogenic.


Dead or decaying organic material: saprophyte.