Question Details

In Chlorophyta, structure for protein and starch reserve is

Options

A

Pyrenoid

B

Eye spot

C

Volutin

D

Paramylum

Correct Answer :

Pyrenoid

Solution :

The correct option is "Pyrenoid".

Let us understand the detailed logical reasoning behind this answer step-by-step:

1. Understanding the Chlorophyta Group:
Chlorophyta, commonly known as green algae, are photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. Like land plants, they contain chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, and store their excess food reserves in specialized cellular structures within their chloroplasts.

2. Function and Structure of Pyrenoids:
Within the chloroplasts of most green algae, there are distinct spherical or differentiated regions called pyrenoids.
Pyrenoids are not membrane-bound organelles; instead, they consist of a proteinaceous core surrounded by a sheath of starch plates. The protein core is primarily composed of the enzyme RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase), which is responsible for carbon dioxide fixation during photosynthesis. The surrounding starch sheath serves as a storage reserve for the carbohydrates synthesized during this process. Therefore, the pyrenoid is the specific structure in Chlorophyta associated with both protein (at its core) and starch (as its sheath) reserves.

3. Evaluating the Other Options:

  • Eye spot: Also known as a stigma, this is a photoreceptive organelle found in unicellular flagellated green algae (like Chlamydomonas) that helps the organism detect light direction for phototaxis. It is not a storage structure.
  • Volutin: Volutin granules are inorganic polyphosphate storage reserves found mainly in bacteria, fungi, and some other groups of algae, rather than being the characteristic starch-protein storage structure of Chlorophyta.
  • Paramylum: Paramylum is a beta-1,3-glucan starch-like carbohydrate storage reserve characteristic of Euglenoids (Euglenophyceae), not green algae (Chlorophyta).

Thus, we confirm that Pyrenoid is the correct structure for storing protein and starch reserves in Chlorophyta.

Unlock Our Free Library

Access expert-curated educational resources and study materials—completely free.