Lichen is usually cited as an example of symbiosis in plants where an algal and fungal species live together for their mutual benefit. Which of the following will happen if algal and fungal partners are separated from one another ?
(a) Both will survive and grow normally and independent of each other.
(b) Both will die.
(c) Algal component will survive while fungal component will die.
(d) fungal component will survive while agal component will die.
Based on your answer how do you justify this association as symbiosis ?

Explanation

Algal component will survive while fungal component will die. This symbiosis is more in favour of fungal partner than algal partner and is also termed as helotism, i.e., master and slave relationship where fungus is the master and alga is slave. When living together, both are benefitted from each other.