Question

Phycobilins are the pigments of
A. Rhodophyta and Xanthophyta
B. Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta
C. Pyrrophyta and Cyanophyta
D. Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta

Answer 1

Hint:-Phycobilins are the photosynthetic pigments found in red or blue algae. The phycobilins are of two types called phycocyanin and phycoerythrin. The red pigment is phycoerythrin and the blue pigment is phycocyanin. Both are water soluble pigments.

Complete answer:Phycobilins are sophisticated photoreceptor pigments. Phycobiliproteins present in phycobilins make them unique among photosynthetic pigments. Phycocyanin is bluish pigment found in cyanobacteria giving them their misleading common name of “blue-green algae”. Phycoerythrin is an accessory photoreceptor pigment found in Rhodophyta which is a red algae. Thus it gives red pigments. It is associated with chlorophyll in Rhodophyta and enables them to be photosynthetically versed in deep water where wavelengths of blue light are most abundant by absorbing blue light and reflecting red light. The three major classes of photosynthetic pigments found in algae are- chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobilins. The carotenoids and phycobilins are soluble in water. In cryptophyta, the phycobilins pigments occur in spaces between thylakoids not in phycobilisomes as they are in Rhodophyta and Cyanobacteria. Phycobilins are water soluble pigments found in stroma of chloroplast organelles. These organelles are present only in Cyanobacteria and Rhodophyta.


So the correct option is D.

Note:- Phycobilins are the pigments of Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta. Phycobilins are not only useful to the organisms which use those for soaking up sunlight but they are also found helpful as research tools. When exposed to strong light they absorb the light energy. The light produced by these pigments is so distinctive that they may be used as chemicals tags.