Question

Fungi differ from algae in being
A. Coenocytic
B. Without motile gametes
C. Without unicellular forms
D. Without chlorophyll and possessing chitinous wall

Answer 1

Hint: Fungi represents a Kingdom in the 5 kingdom classification. They include multicellular eukaryotic organisms.
Algae are a large group of diverse organisms belonging to the Kingdom Protista. They are photosynthetic and eukaryotic organisms.

Complete answer:
Fungi represent a kingdom of multicellular, heterotrophic, eukaryotic organisms. They can be unicellular or filamentous. They exhibit alternation of generation and can perform asexual and sexual reproduction. They play an important role in nutrient cycling and acts as good symbionts. A significant feature of fungus is the absence of chlorophyll. Thus, they cannot perform photosynthesis and have to depend on other organisms for their food.

Algae are a diverse group of organisms belonging to the Kingdom Protista. They contain chlorophyll but lack a well-defined plant body. They are autotrophs as they can prepare their own food. They occur mostly in water, and their sex organs are not protected.
Fungi and algae show various similarities but have a few differences as well.
Let us analyze the options to find the correct answer.

Option A: The cells that are multinucleated and have not undergone cytokinesis after every nuclear division are called Coenocytic. Algae and fungi both show the coenocytic stage. Vaucheria and Chara are a few examples of coenocytic algae, and the Zygomycetes fungi are coenocytic. Therefore, coenocytic is an incorrect option.
Option B: The few species of both algae and fungi have motile gametes. Therefore, without motile gametes is an incorrect option.
Option C: Both algae and fungi have unicellular forms. Examples of unicellular algae are- Spirogyra, Chrysophyta, etc. Yeast is a unicellular fungus. Therefore, without unicellular forms is an incorrect option.
Option D: Algae are photosynthetic and have chlorophyll in their green thalloid body. They are autotrophic, and their cell wall is made up of glycoproteins and polysaccharides. They lack chitin in their cell wall.
Fungi are non-photosynthetic and lack chlorophyll pigment in their body. They are heterotrophic, and their cell wall is a complex structure made up of chitin, glycoproteins, pigments, and few glucans.
Therefore, without chlorophyll and possessing a chitinous wall is the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D)

Note: Fungi and algae show few other similarities like- they both lack vascular tissues. Fragmentation is the preferred mode of asexual reproduction in both. Their reproductive organs lack a covering. Fungi and algae also show a symbiont relationship.