Question

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

Answer 1

Hint: A lichen is made up of a simple photosynthetic organism, typically a green alga or cyanobacterium, that is surrounded by fungus filaments. The majority of a lichen's bulk is made up of interwoven fungal filaments, though this is not the case in filamentous and gelatinous lichens. A mycobiont is a type of fungus.

Complete answer:
Lichens are made up of a fungal (mycobiont) and an algal (phytoplankton) partner (phycobiont). The lichen's physical bulk and form are provided by the fungal filaments, which surround and expand into the algal cells.
Algae are photosynthetic species that are green in colour. They are autotrophic because they prepare their own food by photosynthesis. Lichens are non-photosynthetic, so they can't make their own food. Algae can live in the absence of lichens since they can cook their own food. Lichens, on the other hand, would starve and eventually die.

So, option C is the correct answer.

Humans have consumed lichens as well as used them as a source of medicine and dye. They also provide two-thirds of the food supply for the far northern ranges' caribou and reindeer.

Note:
Lichens can reproduce in one of two ways. To begin, lichens may produce soredia, which is a cluster of algal cells encased in fungal filaments. These lichens have the potential to spread and form new lichens. Isidia, which are similar to soredia but are contained within a layer of protective cortex tissue, are a second way for the lichen to replicate itself.