Question

Consider the statements with respect to fungi:
They show a great diversity in morphology and habitat.
White spots seen on mustard leaves are due to a saprophytic fungus.
They prefer to grow in cold and humid places.
The cell walls of fungi are composed of chitin and polysaccharides.
Of the above statements:
(A)a and b are correct
(B)a and d are correct
(C)a and c are correct
(D)d and b are correct
(E)b and c are correct

Answer 1

Hint:-Robert Whittaker organized various organisms based on their cell structure, complexity, mode of nutrition, phylogenetic relationship, into 5 kingdoms that includes, Kingdom Monera, Kingdom Protista, Kingdom Fungi, Kingdom Plantae, and Kingdom Animalia. This classification made the study of a variety of organisms systematically.

Complete step-by-step solution:-Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that come under kingdom fungi. It includes microorganisms like Mushrooms, Yeast, Moulds, etc. The member of kingdom fungi can be unicellular (yeast) or multicellular (Mould). The cell walls of fungi are composed of a special sugar called chitin and polysaccharide. Fungi have a thread-like structure called Hyphae and many hyphae join together to form a network called Mycelium. Due to the difference in the complexity of various fungus, they show great diversity in morphology as well as habitat. The fungus requires a hot and humid climate for their growth.
Fungi cannot synthesize their food, that's why they depend on other organisms for food and based on the mode of nutrition they are classified as Saprophytic fungus (eg. Rhizopus), Parasitic fungus (eg. Puccinia), Symbiotic fungus (eg. Lichen and Mycorrhiza). Saprophytic fungus takes its nutrition from dead and decaying matter. The majority of fungal diseases in plants are due to parasitic fungus because of their nutrition. These include White spots on Mustard leaves by Albugo candida (parasitic fungus), Fusarium spots by Fusarium, etc.
The fungus shows great diversity in morphology and habitat, so this statement is correct. White spots on mustard are due to Albugo candida, which is a parasitic fungus, not a saprophytic fungus, so this statement is incorrect. Fungi prefer to grow in hot and humid climates, so this statement is also incorrect. Cell walls of fungi are composed of chitin and polysaccharide, so this statement is correct. So the correct answer is an option (B) a and d are correct.

Note:-
 Fungi are also classified based on the spore produced, into Zygomycetes (producing zygospores), Ascomycetes (producing ascospores), Basidiomycetes (producing basidiospores), and Deuteromycetes (sexual reproduction absent). Apart from causing diseases, fungi play an important role in recycling dead and decay matter, acts as food material (eg. Mushroom), used to produce antibiotics (eg. Penicillin), and acts as biocontrol agents that help in controlling pests.