According to Whittaker's classification, which mode of nutrition is found in organisms of kingdom Monera?

Correct answer: Both autotrophic and heterotrophic

Direct answer: B, both autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition. Whittaker’s Monera included prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and cyanobacteria. Monerans do not all obtain food in the same way. Some bacteria make organic food using light energy, called photoautotrophy, while others use energy from inorganic chemical substances, called chemoautotrophy. Many other bacteria cannot synthesize all their food and obtain organic nutrients from outside; these are heterotrophic and may be saprophytic or parasitic. Therefore, the broad correct statement is that both autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition occur in Monera. A is wrong because not every moneran makes its own food. C is too narrow because only some are saprophytic. D is also too narrow because only some obtain nutrition parasitically. Memory cue: Monera is nutritionally diverse; never attach the word “only” to one mode in this question.