Question

1.why do charophytes resemble early plant ancestors according to current research

Answer 1

Charophytes is the lineage of green algae that resemble early plant ancestors according to current research as they are the only algae that share distinctive traits with land plants.

1. Rosette-shaped cellulose-synthesizing complexes: Land plants and charophytes cells have circular and petal-shaped arrays of proteins present in the plasma membrane that synthesize the cellulose microfibrils of the cell wall. But in noncharophyte algae linear arrays of proteins synthesize cellulose.

2. Peroxisome enzymes: Both land plants and charophytes peroxisomes contains enzymes that reduces the loss of organic products due to photorespiration. But peroxisomes of other algae do not synthesize these enzymes.

3. Structure of flagellated sperm: Land plants and charophyte sperm share asymmetric arrangement of sperm flagella.

4. Formation of a phragmoplast: Charophytes share phragmoplast method of cell division with plants. This is observed only in the Charales and Coleochaetales as other members do not produce flagellated gametes during their life cycle. A group of microtubules called as phragmoplast form between the daughter nuclei of dividing cell. Then cell plate develops in the middle of the phragmoplast that gives rise to a new cross wall and separates the daughter cells.