Question

Which one of the following features is shared by algae and fungi?
A.Autotrophism
B.Parenchymatous thallus
C.Embryo absent in life cycle
D.Reserve food matter in starch

Answer 1

Hint: Algae come under the Protista kingdom of classification and Fungi come under the Fungi kingdom of classification. Even though they belong to different kingdoms, they do share some similarities, mainly in the case of reproduction. Both algae and fungi do not produce embryos in their reproductive stage, instead, the zygote directly develops into the organism.

Complete step by step answer: Algae are the organisms that are capable of producing their food via photosynthesis and can be considered aquatic autotrophs. Whereas fungi cannot produce food on their own and lack the capability of phototropism and rely on other organisms for food.
Both algae and fungi have pseudo parenchymatous tissue, which is also called pseudoparenchyma. They are not true parenchyma and thus both do not form parenchymatous thallus.
In the case of algae, being autotrophs, they produce and reserve food as starch within them, but in the case of fungi, they reserve food as glycogen and fats like in animals.
Algae and fungi have multiple means of reproduction such as budding, fragmentation, spore formation, binary fission, etc. but in every situation, in both cases of algal reproduction and fungal reproduction, there is no formation of an embryo.
Even under sexual reproduction where there is a formation of a zygote, the zygote develops into the mycelium directly in the case of fungi and as unicellular aggregates in the case of algae.
Thus the correct option is C, both algae and fungi do not form embryos in their life cycle.

Note: Algae belong to the kingdom Protista and Fungi to the kingdom Fungi.
Both have multiple methods of reproduction but none of them involve the formation of an embryo.
An embryo is considered as developing offspring which is supplemented with nutrition and protection by the parent.
In the case of algae and fungi, there is nutrient supplementation or protection given and the zygotes directly divide and form cells of their own.