Question 33 of 56
Q.Write any two general characteristic features of Lichen.
Tamil Nadu DgeTamil Nadu HSC First Year (DGE) Board 2022Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
59% · 33/56 Questions
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Lichens show a permanent, mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship between an alga and a fungus, and are highly sensitive to air pollution.
A lichen is not a single organism but a composite (symbiotic) organism formed by the close association of two components:
- The phycobiont (algal partner), which is photosynthetic (either a green alga or a cyanobacterium) and manufactures food (carbohydrates) for the association.
- The mycobiont (fungal partner), which forms the main body of the lichen, absorbs water and minerals from the substratum, and provides shelter/protection to the alga.
General characteristic features of lichens include:
- Symbiotic association: The alga and fungus live together in an obligate mutualistic relationship — the fungus is heterotrophic and depends on the alga's photosynthesis for organic food, while the alga in turn is protected and supplied with water/minerals absorbed by the fungal hyphae. …
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