Question

Which one exhibits the character of a protozoan during one phase of its life cycle and character of fungi in another phase of its cycle?
A. Water molds
B. Psilophyta
C. Slime molds
D. Diatoms

Answer 1

An organism that exhibits the character of both i.e., protozoa as well as fungi belongs to the class Myxomycetes under the kingdom Protista. This organism is saprophytic and has a gelatinous appearance.

Complete answer:
Option (A) is incorrect. Water molds belong to the class Oomycetes. They possess several features in common with the brown algae i.e., oogamous eggs, cell walls made of cellulose, and a predominantly diploid life cycle. They do not possess protozoan or fungal characters in their life cycle.
Option (B) is incorrect. Psilophyta is a class containing three genera for a group of fossil plants that lack true roots and leaves but possess a vascular system within its branching cylindrical stem.
Option (C) is correct. Slime molds that belong to the class Myxomycetes of kingdom Protista, exhibit the character of a protozoan during one phase of its life cycle and the character of fungi in another phase of its cycle. The life cycle of slime molds begins as an amoeboid cell, a character similar to that of a protozoan and the reproduction occurs through the spores produced inside the sporangium just like fungi.
Option (D) is incorrect. Diatoms belong to the class Bacillariophyceae and they are a major group of microalgae. In diatoms, asexual reproduction takes place through binary fission.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Slime molds show two characters in their life cycle i.e., they behave like protozoa with their amoeboid plasmodial stage and like true fungi in their ability to form abundant spores. They have not been placed in the kingdom Fungi because they have cellulose cell walls and do not possess hyphal structures.