Which of the following is a difference between plants and fungi?

• A. Fungi are autotrophic, while plants are heterotrophic.
• B. Fungi perform photosynthesis, while plants do not.
• C. Fungi have cell walls made of chitin, while plants have cell walls made of cellulose.
• D. Fungi reproduce only sexually, while plants reproduce only asexually.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the basic definitions of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. Autotrophs can produce their own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals, while heterotrophs cannot synthesize their own food and rely on other organisms for nutrition.
2. Recognize that plants are autotrophic organisms because they perform photosynthesis, a process that converts light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. Fungi, on the other hand, are heterotrophic because they absorb nutrients from organic matter.
3. Consider the process of photosynthesis. Plants have chlorophyll, which allows them to capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy. Fungi do not have chlorophyll and therefore do not perform photosynthesis.
4. Examine the composition of cell walls in plants and fungi. Plant cell walls are primarily made of cellulose, a polysaccharide that provides structural support. Fungal cell walls are made of chitin, a different polysaccharide that also provides structural support but is chemically distinct from cellulose.
5. Understand the modes of reproduction in plants and fungi. Plants can reproduce both sexually (through seeds and spores) and asexually (through methods like budding or vegetative propagation). Fungi also have diverse reproductive strategies, including both sexual and asexual reproduction, depending on the species.