Question

Which bryophyte is of economic importance?
A.Funaria
B.Marchantia
C.Riccia
D.Sphagnum

Answer 1

Hint: The harvesting, processing and sale of this peat moss is a multimillion dollar industry.

Complete step by step answer:
- Peat or peat moss is the name given to dried and decayed sphagnum moss. It is often used as a soil conditioner because it increases the soil's water holding capacity as well as capacity to hold nutrients. This is possible by increasing capillary forces and cation exchange capacity – uses that are particularly useful in gardening.
-Sphagnum is spongy in nature. Because of this property, they are significant in the packing of different types of material.
-It is also used in the packing of some sensitive plants, in addition to this it is also used in the growth of certain types of plants in regions where the pH value of soil is slightly higher.
-They also play an important role in retaining moisture and thus helps the plant in their growth since adequate amount of moisture is required for the proper growth of plants.

So, the correct option is D.

Note:
Sphagnum mosses carpet the ground with color on our marshes, heaths and moors. They play a vital role in the creation of peat bogs: by storing water in their spongy forms, they prevent the decay of dead plant material and eventually form peat.
Bryophytes find its use in a variety of things, such as indicator species, in controlling erosion, bioindicators of heavy metals that are responsible for air pollution, aquatic bioindicators, radioactivity indicators, fuel, medicines and food sources, pesticides, nitrogen fixation, moss gardening, treatment of waste.