Question

Which one of the following is a characteristic feature of Chrysophytes?
A. They are parasitic forms which cause disease in animals
B. They have a protein rich layer, called pellicle
C. they have indestructible wall layers deposited with silica
D. They are commonly called dinoflagellates
E. They are saprophytic protists

Answer 1

Hint: Chrysophytes are organisms that come under kingdom protista. Many of the cryophytes are the types of algae, consisting of the green alga Chlamydomonas nivalis and some diatoms, but they also include dinomastigotes, certain mosses, bacteria, and fungi. They have very hard cell walls.

Complete answer:
Chrysophytes are phytoplanktons or protists that are plant-like. Chrysophytes are generally found in marine and freshwater habitat, in low calcium zones. Chrysophytes can be categorized into three, first is diatoms that belong to bacillariophyta, second is golden-brown algae also known as chrysophyceae, and last is the yellow-green algae, i.e. xanthophyceae. General characteristics include unicellular and free swimming nature, among them some chrysophytes, form colonies, which helps them to float on water.

The group crystophytes includes diatoms and golden algae, i.e. desmids. They are found in both freshwater and in marine water environments. They belong to the kingdom of Protista. They are small microscopic in size and have the ability to float in water currents i.e. plankton.

Presence of indestructible cell wall layers deposited with silica is a characteristic feature of Chrysophytes. In Chrysophytes, cell walls are formed by the two things overlapping shells. This fit together in a small box. The walls are embedded with silica and thus walls are indestructible.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Most of the Chrysophytes are autotrophs and photosynthetic activity is present and some are facultative heterotrophs. But, none Chrysophytes show saprophytic dependence, nor they are parasitic in nature. A protein rich layer called pellicle is the characteristic feature of Euglenoids, not Chrysophytes.