Early Fungi Probably Formed Mutualistic Associations with Early Plants, Providing

question 56

Multiple Choice

Early fungi probably formed mutualistic associations with early plants, providing nutrients to the plant and receiving energy-containing compounds. Evidence that plants' ability to form a mutualistic association with fungi is due to ancient genes includes which of the following occurrences?

• A) presence of genes in the earliest fungi that showed an ability to digest cellulose and lignin
• B) presence of genes for chitin in the oldest flowering plants and oldest fungi
• C) fossils that show hyphae wrapped around seeds
• D) restoration of the ability to form mycorrhizae with fungi by a flowering plant after biologists transferred a gene from a liverwort to the flowering plant

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Definitions:

Brackish Water

Water that has more salt than freshwater but less than seawater, often resulting from the mixing of sea and freshwater.

Waterless Conditions

Environments or situations characterized by a lack of water or moisture.

Fecal Matter

Solid or semisolid waste material from the digestive tract that is expelled through the anus during defecation.

Humus Material

Organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms.