Which of the following characteristics of plants is absent in their closest relatives, the charophyte algae?
a. chlorophyll b
b. cellulose in cell walls
c. sexual reproduction
d. alternation of multicellular generations

Respuesta :

Answer: d. alternation of multicellular generations

Explanation:

The gametophytic as well as the sporophytic generations are alternative in the life cycle of the multicellular plants. This can be seen among the land plants. This feature cannot be seen in the algal species as they are unicellular in nature. Thus cannot be seen in the relatives of charophyta algae.

Alternation of multicellular generations is the characteristic of plants that is absent in their closest relatives, the charophyte algae.

Vascular plants have a haplodiplont biological cycle with antithetical alternation of generations, this means that there are only two generations that develop in different nuclear phases:

  • A sporophytic generation in the diplophase responsible for producing spores (n) by meiosis.

  • A gametophytic generation in the haplophase culminating in the production of gametes (n).

This cycle differs from the haplonte cycles where the generation or generations develop in the haplofase or from the diplontes when the generation or generations develop in the diplophase; these types of cycles occur in more primitive plants.

When more than one generation alternate within the same phase, it is called homogenesis, as opposed to antigensis (mentioned for higher plants) where there is only one generation in each phase.

However, among charophyte algae there is only isomorphic alternation in ulvophyceae; the rest, including caroficeas, have a haplonte cycle in which the zygote undergoes meiosis.

Therefore, we can conclude that alternation of multicellular generations is the characteristic of plants that is absent in their closest relatives, the charophyte algae.

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