Which of the following characters you would choose while classifying the various algae into distinct groups ?

Options

A. Nature of stored food material in a cell
B. Structural organization of thallus
C. Chemical composition of cell wall
D. Types of pigments present in a cell

Answer

To classify various algae into distinct groups, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Groups of Algae**: Algae are primarily classified into three main groups based on their characteristics:
- Chlorophyceae (Green Algae)
- Pheophyceae (Brown Algae)
- Rhodophyceae (Red Algae)

2. **Determine the Classification Criteria**: When classifying algae, we need to consider various characteristics. The key criteria include:
- Nature of stored food
- Material in the cell
- Structural organization of thallus
- Chemical composition of the cell wall
- Types of pigments present in the cell

3. **Analyze the Importance of Each Character**:
- **Types of Pigments**: Different classes of algae have distinct pigments. For example:
- Green algae (Chlorophyceae) contain chlorophyll A and B.
- Brown algae (Pheophyceae) contain chlorophyll A and C, along with fucoxanthin.
- Red algae (Rhodophyceae) contain chlorophyll A and D, along with phycoerythrin.
- **Stored Food**: The type of stored food also varies:
- Green algae store starch.
- Brown algae store mannitol.
- Red algae store floridean starch.

4. **Choose the Most Relevant Character for Classification**: Among all the characters, the **types of pigments present in a cell** is the most significant criterion for classifying algae into distinct groups. This is because the pigments not only define the color of the algae but also indicate the photosynthetic capabilities and evolutionary relationships among the groups.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the character that should be chosen while classifying the various algae into distinct groups is the **types of pigments present in a cell**.

### Final Answer:
The character you would choose while classifying the various algae into distinct groups is **the types of pigments present in a cell**.

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