Phycobillins are characteristic pigments of :-

Options

A. Rhodophyta and phaeophyta
B. Rhodophyta and Pyrophyta
C. Pyrophyta and Cyanophyta
D. Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Phycobilins**: Phycobilins are water-soluble pigments that are primarily found in certain groups of algae. They play a crucial role in photosynthesis by capturing light energy.

2. **Identifying the Types of Phycobilins**: There are two main types of phycobilins:
- **Phycoerythrin**: This is a red pigment found in red algae (Rhodophyta).
- **Phycocyanin**: This is a blue pigment found in cyanobacteria (Cyanophyta).

3. **Analyzing the Options**: The question provides four options regarding the groups of algae that contain phycobilins:
- Option A: Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta
- Option B: Rhodophyta and Pyrophyta
- Option C: Phaeophyta and Cyanophyta
- Option D: Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta

4. **Matching the Pigments with Algae Groups**:
- Since phycoerythrin is characteristic of Rhodophyta (red algae) and phycocyanin is characteristic of Cyanophyta (blue-green algae), we can conclude that phycobilins are found in both Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta.

5. **Selecting the Correct Answer**: Based on the analysis, the correct answer is option D: Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta.

**Final Answer**: Phycobilins are characteristic pigments of Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta.

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