Question

Mannitol is the stored food in :

• A. Porphyra
• B. Chara
• C. Gracillaria
• D. Fucus

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The question asks which organism stores food in the form of mannitol. Let's analyze each option to identify the correct answer:

1. Porphyra: This is a genus of red algae, well-known for its use in sushi wraps (nori). It typically stores food as floridean starch, not mannitol.
2. Chara: A genus of green algae known as stoneworts. They usually store food as starch, similar to other green algae, and do not utilize mannitol as a storage form.
3. Gracillaria: Another genus of red algae, typically used for agar production. It stores food in the form of floridean starch, not mannitol.
4. Fucus: This is a genus of brown algae. Brown algae, such as Fucus, are known to store carbohydrates mainly in the form of mannitol and laminarin. Thus, mannitol is used by Fucus as a primary storage product.

Based on the above analysis, the stored food in the form of mannitol is in Fucus. It distinguishes brown algae from other algal groups like red and green algae, which use different storage forms.

Therefore, the correct answer is Fucus.