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Difficulty: MediumKingdom Fungi: Moulds, Yeasts, and Mushrooms

During an investigation of organisms causing palm wine fermentation, a biology student isolates a unicellular organism whose cell wall is composed of chitin and stores excess carbohydrate as glycogen. Which mode of nutrition and structural feature correctly identify how this organism differs from green plants?

  1. Saprophytic nutrition and a chitinous cell wallAnswer
  2. B
    Autotrophic nutrition and a chitinous cell wall
  3. C
    Holozoic ingestion of sugar particles and a cellulose cell wall
  4. D
    Autotrophic nutrition and a peptidoglycan cell wall

Answer

Saprophytic nutrition and a chitinous cell wall
Members of Kingdom Fungi, including yeast (*Saccharomyces*), are characterized by non-photosynthetic saprophytic nutrition and rigid cell walls made of chitin. Green plants, in contrast, are autotrophic organisms with cellulosic cell walls.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the fungal archetype from the prompt characteristics
The unicellular fermenting organism with a chitin cell wall and glycogen storage is yeast (Saccharomyces), belonging to Kingdom Fungi.
Chitin walls, glycogen storage reserves, and unicellular structure are diagnostic features of yeasts.
2
Determine the mode of nutrition and cell wall differences relative to green plants
Fungi exhibit heterotrophic saprophytic nutrition and have chitin cell walls, whereas green plants are autotrophic and possess cellulose cell walls.
Fungi lack chlorophyll and perform extracellular digestion of organic substrates.

Key Concept

Distinctive cellular features (chitin wall, glycogen reserve) and heterotrophic saprophytic mode of nutrition in Kingdom Fungi
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Topics

Kingdom Fungi: Moulds, Yeasts, and Mushrooms

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