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If you are asked to classify the various algae into distinct groups, which of the following characters you should choose?
A
nature of stored food materials in the cell
B
structural organization of thallus
C
chemical composition of the cell wall
D
types of pigments present in the cell
Detailed Solution
Algae are divided into three main classes mainly on the basis of the photosynthetic pigments present in their cells.
Chlorophyceae (green algae): chlorophyll a and b.
Phaeophyceae (brown algae): chlorophyll a, c and fucoxanthin.
Rhodophyceae (red algae): chlorophyll a, d and phycoerythrin.
The very names of the groups (green, brown and red algae) are based on their pigments.
The stored food (starch, laminarin and mannitol, floridean starch) and the cell wall composition also differ and are used as supporting characters, while the organisation of the thallus varies widely within each group.
So the character to choose is the types of pigments present in the cell.
Chlorophyceae (green algae): chlorophyll a and b.
Phaeophyceae (brown algae): chlorophyll a, c and fucoxanthin.
Rhodophyceae (red algae): chlorophyll a, d and phycoerythrin.
The very names of the groups (green, brown and red algae) are based on their pigments.
The stored food (starch, laminarin and mannitol, floridean starch) and the cell wall composition also differ and are used as supporting characters, while the organisation of the thallus varies widely within each group.
So the character to choose is the types of pigments present in the cell.