Kingdom Protista forms link with others dealing with plants, animals and fungi. Which of the following feature justify their linkage with fungi ?

Options

A. Plasmodium without cell wall
B. Spores with chitinous wall
C. Predation on smaller organisms
D. Formation of fruiting bodies

Answer

To determine which feature of Kingdom Protista justifies their linkage with fungi, we need to analyze the given options step by step.

**Step 1: Understand the characteristics of Kingdom Protista and Fungi**
- Kingdom Protista includes a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that are not animals, plants, or fungi.
- Fungi are characterized by their ability to form spores, have cell walls made of chitin, and often reproduce through structures known as fruiting bodies.

**Step 2: Analyze the options provided**
1. **Plasmodium without cell wall**:
- Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic protists, and it does not have a cell wall. This characteristic does not link it to fungi, as fungi have cell walls made of chitin.

2. **Spores with chitinous wall**:
- While fungi produce spores with chitinous walls, protists typically do not have this feature. This option does not justify a link between protists and fungi.

3. **Predation on smaller organisms**:
- Some protists do exhibit predatory behavior, but this characteristic is not exclusive to fungi and does not establish a direct link between the two kingdoms.

4. **Formation of the fruiting bodies**:
- The formation of fruiting bodies is a characteristic feature of fungi, where they produce structures that contain spores for reproduction. Some protists also exhibit similar reproductive structures, which can justify a link to fungi.

**Step 3: Conclusion**
- The correct answer is the **formation of fruiting bodies**, as this feature provides a significant link between certain protists and fungi.

### Final Answer:
The feature that justifies the linkage of Kingdom Protista with fungi is the **formation of fruiting bodies**.

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