Wall appears in consumer-decomposer protists during

Options

A. Somatic phase
B. Gametangium
C. Spore stage
D. Both B and C.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Consumer-Decomposer Protists**:
- Consumer-decomposer protists, such as slime molds, are organisms that exhibit characteristics of both animals and fungi. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by decomposing organic matter.

2. **Identifying the Phases of Protists**:
- The life cycle of consumer-decomposer protists includes various phases: somatic phase, gamete formation (gametangium), and sporulation (spore stage).

3. **Analyzing the Somatic Phase**:
- In the somatic phase, these protists do not have a cell wall. Instead, they possess a plasma membrane. Therefore, this phase does not involve wall formation.

4. **Examining the Gametangium**:
- The gametangium is responsible for the formation of gametes and is a haploid structure. It does not involve the formation of a cell wall, making this option incorrect as well.

5. **Understanding Sporulation (Spore Stage)**:
- During sporulation, the nucleus of the protist undergoes division, and the chromatin is released. This process leads to the formation of spores, which are surrounded by layers that include a cell wall. This is the stage where the wall appears.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The correct answer to the question is that the wall appears in consumer-decomposer protists during the sporulation (spore) stage.

**Final Answer**: The wall appears in consumer-decomposer protists during the sporulation (spore) stage.

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