Question

Algae differ from Riccia and Marchantia in having
A. Multicellular body
B. Pyrenoids in the cell
C. Multicellular sex organs
D. Thalloid body

Answer 1

Hint: Algae are simple chlorophyll bearing avascular plants and they are usually aquatic. These are photosynthetic and classified as Green algae, Brown algae, Red algae.
Riccia and Marchantia are commonly known as liverworts that come under Bryophytes which are terrestrial and nonvascular plants.

Complete answer:

Basically here we need to find the differences between both algae and bryophytes which are morphologically seen and on a cellular basis.
> Option -A- Multicellular body
Algae may be multicellular or unicellular and Bryophytes are multicellular. So this option does not give any difference between these two as they both have a multicellular body.
> Option -B- Pyrenoids in the cell
Algae are having special subcellular microcompartments in their chloroplasts called pyrenoids which are helpful in carbon dioxide fixation in photosynthesis. Nearly 50% of environmental carbon dioxide is fixed by algae via photosynthesis. These are absent in all other phyla.
> Option -C- Multicellular sex organs
Both Algae and Bryophytes are having multicellular sex organs to carry out reproduction. These organs as such are needed for the sexual type of reproduction and are present in both algae and bryophytes.
> Option -D- Thalloid body
Both Algae and Bryophytes are having a thalloid body i.e. not distinct into stem, roots, and leaves having a thallus-like body. Their body is not differentiated. Therefore also this option does not match the requirement of this question.

So, the correct answer to this question is the option “B” Pyrenoids in the cell.

Note: Plant kingdom is divided into Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Angiosperms, and Gymnosperms. Kingdom Plantae includes all multicellular, eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms.