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In a lichen symbiotic association between a fungus and a cyanobacterium growing

ID: 217786 • Letter: I

Question

In a lichen symbiotic association between a fungus and a cyanobacterium growing on a bare rock surface, the phototroph clearly benefits the fungus by fixing carbon from CO2. The fungus benefits the cyanobacterium in ALL BUT which of the following ways?

The fungus oxidizes organic matter, providing CO2 to the cyanobacterium. The fungus produces acids that dissolve the rock, providing inorganic nutrients to the cyanobacterium. The fungus uses its hyphal structure to enhance water absorption and uptake. The fungus provides a protective structure for the cyanobacterium to prevent desiccation and erosion.

Explanation / Answer

Answer : The fungus oxidizes organic matter, providing CO2 to the cyanobacterium

Lichen association is a mutual association of fungus & algae where the algae lives inside the filaments of fungus. In this mutual association, the algae or cyanobacterium provides the fungus with the sugars produced by the process of photosynthesis and in return it gets protection from erosion, better absorption of water and inorganic nutrients from the substrate i.e., the medium on which the fungus grows ( in this question the substrate is rock).

The algae absorbs atmospheric CO2 for the process of photosynthesis, therefore tge fungus does not provide the algae with CO2 by oxudizing organic matter.

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