Question

Phycoerythrin, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are characteristic of?
A. Phaeophyceae
B. Xanthophyceae
C. Chlorophyceae
D. Rhodophyceae

Answer 1

Hint: The members of Rhodophyceae are also known as red algae because of the predominance of the red pigment r-phycoerythrin in their bodies. Apart from this, many other major pigments are found in them. These include chlorophyll a and chlorophyll d.

Complete answer:
Option A- Phaeophyceae
It is the brown algae, encompassing the class Phaeophyceae. They are a large group of multicellular algae. They include many seaweeds that are located in colder waters within the Northern Hemisphere. Brown algae commonly live in marine environments. They play an important role here both as food and as a potential habitat.

Option B- Xanthophyceae
It is Yellow-green algae. Xanthophyceae are an important group of heterokont algae. They Mostly live in freshwater, but could also be found in marine and soil habitats. They could be single-celled flagellates or simple colonial or filamentous forms.

Option C- Chlorophyceae
The Chlorophyceae are one of the classes of green algae. We are able to distinguish it mainly on the basis of ultrastructural morphology. For example, the Chlorophyceae CW clade, and Chlorophyceae DO clade, are defined by the arrangement of their flagella.

Option D- Rhodophyceae
It is red algae. It is a large group of algae consisting of 831 genera and over 5; 250 species. They are known as red algae due to the presence of a water-soluble red pigment known as r- phycoerythrin.

So, the correct option is D- Rhodophyceae.

Note: Another pigment is Phycoerythrin (PE) which is a red protein-pigment complex belonging from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family. It is present in red algae and cryptophytes, accessory to the main chlorophyll pigments responsible for photosynthesis.