Question

Match Column-I with Column-II

Column-I	Column-II
(a). Saprophyte	(i) Symbiotic association of fungi with plant roots
(b). Parasite	(ii) Decomposition of dead organic materials
(c). Lichens	(iii) Living on living plants or animals
(d) Mycorrhiza	(iv) Symbiotic association of algae and fungi

Choose the correct answer from the option given.
A. (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B. (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
C. (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D. (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)

Answer 1

There are different types of associations between plants with other plant species or other species such as fungi, animals or other microorganisms. The association can be either beneficial to both, or beneficial to one or harmful to one.

Complete step by step answer: Saprophytes- The organisms which feed on dead or decaying organic substances, they thrive on the nutrition derived from these materials. Most of the members of the kingdom Fungi are saprophytic in nature. It is a method of heterotrophic nutrition, involving extracellular digestion.
Parasite- These are the animals that grow on other living plants or animals. This type of relationship is
detrimental to the host organisms. This kind of relationship is exhibited by all harmful bacteria and all
the virus species. The parasite can live on or inside the host organism. It competes for the nutrients with
the host. And the parasite has structural modifications to thrive on the host.
Lichens- The symbiotic association between algae and a fungus is called so. This association is beneficial to both organisms. The fungal members help in fixing the atmospheric nitrogen to facilitate the absorption by the algae, and in turn, algae provide nutrients to the fungi for its development.
Mycorrhiza- It is a mutualistic association between a fungus and a green plant. The association is beneficial to both the organisms, and they co-exist. The plant prepares sugar and other organic molecules by photosynthesis and provides the fungus with it. The fungal member absorbs certain minerals such as phosphorus from the soil as well as water and provides it to the plant.
Thus, the correct one is D.

Note: There are mainly two types of mycorrhiza, they are ectomycorrhizal and endomycorrhiza, on the basis of the extent of association. In ectomycorrhiza, there occurs only an external association with the fungal hyphae not penetrating the roots of the plants, while in endomycorrhizal the fungal hyphae penetrate the roots.