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 consider several characters. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the classification criteria:

### Step 1: Nature of Stored Food Material
- Algae store food in different forms, such as starch, oils, or other carbohydrates. For example, green algae typically store starch, while some brown algae store laminarin or mannitol. This characteristic is crucial for classification.

### Step 2: Structural Organization of Thallus
- The thallus refers to the body of the algae, which can be unicellular, filamentous, or multicellular. The structural organization can help differentiate between groups like unicellular Chlamydomonas and multicellular kelps.

### Step 3: Chemical Composition of Cell Wall
- Algal cell walls can be composed of different materials such as cellulose, silica, or alginates. For instance, diatoms have silica in their cell walls, while red algae contain agar. This chemical composition is another significant factor in classification.

### Step 4: Types of Pigments Present
- Algae contain various pigments that play a role in photosynthesis, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. The presence of specific pigments can help classify algae into groups like green algae (Chlorophyta), red algae (Rhodophyta), and brown algae (Phaeophyta).

### Conclusion
Based on the above characteristics, the most significant factor for classifying algae into distinct groups is the **nature of stored food material in the cell**. This is because it varies significantly among different algal groups and can be a defining feature.

### Final Answer
The correct option is **A: Nature of stored food material in a cell**.

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