The Kingdom Monera Protoctista and Fungi NIOS chapter explains the diversity of microorganisms and lower organisms. It highlights their structure, nutrition, reproduction, and significance in nature. This chapter helps students understand how these kingdoms differ from Plantae and Animalia. It also covers their ecological and economic importance.
With solved terminal exercises, students can practice well and strengthen their preparation for NIOS exams by understanding key examples and applications of each kingdom.
The Kingdom Monera Protoctista And Fungi NIOS
1. Draw a labelled diagram of a typical bacterial cell.
2. List the different nutritional categories of bacteria and protists.
The four nutritional categories found in bacteria are:
- (i) Autotrophs – synthesise their own organic food.
- (ii) Saprotrophs – feed on dead organic matter.
- (iii) Symbionts – use food from other living organisms with which they are associated for mutual benefit.
- (iv) Parasites – absorb food from living organisms and cause harm to them
Protoctists have a heterotrophic nutrition.
3. Draw the labelled diagrams to show binary fission in bacteria.
4. How does amoeba normally reproduce? Draw diagrams to represent the process.
Reproduction: Sexual reproduction is uncommon in Amoeba.
Asexual reproduction is by binary fission.
5. Draw a labelled diagram of Euglena.
6. What are the common features of diatoms which justify their inclusion in protoctists?
The diatoms are found in both fresh and salt water and in moist soil.
- Thousands of species of diatoms act as food for aquatic animals.
- Diatoms are either unicellular, colonial, or filamentous and occur in a wide variety of shapes.
- Each cell has a single prominent nucleus and plastids. They produce shells (cell walls) containing silica.
7. Write a paragraph on economic importance of the protoctists.
- (i) Some protozoan protists cause diseases in man, e.g., Plasmodium causes malaria. Entamoeba histolytica causes amoebic dysentery in man.
- ii) Diatoms form phytoplankton of the oceans, which are producers.
- (iii) Diatoms are used as food by aquatic animals.
- (iv) Diatoms form diatomaceous earth.
8. List any three characteristics of fungi.
- Fungi are heterotrophic unicellular or multicellular eukaryotes
- Fungi exist as slender thread-like filaments called hyphae. Hypha may be one-celled or multicelled and has one or more nuclei. Yeast, however, is single-celled and uninucleate.
- Their cell walls are made of chitin
- A hypha may be divided into cells by partitions called septa.
- Septa have pores through which cytoplasm streams freely.
- A group of hyphae forming a network is called mycelium (mycetos meaning fungus).
- Mycelia spread out on the substrate, or on the ground, and even extend up to several kilometres.
- They do not possess chlorophyll as their nutrition is obtained by absorption or feeding on dead organic matter.
- Aquatic fungi have flagellate gametes or flagellate spores
- Higher fungi do not have a flagellum at any stage of the life cycle.
- Reproduction in fungi is both asexual by means of flagellate or non-flagellate spores and sexual through conjugation.
9. What are mycorrhizae?
Mycorrhizae are fungi associated with the roots of plants. Roots benefit in getting minerals from the environment, while fungi get food from the plant in return through such an association.
10. Name three harmful fungi, mentioning their harmful effects.
- Puccinia graminis or Wheat rust
- Rhizopus or Bread mould
11. Write a note on beneficial fungi.
Certain Mushrooms (such as Agaricus campestris) are edible.
Yeast is used for fermentation during the manufacture of bread, beer, soya sauce, cheese, and wine.
- Mycorrhizae are fungi associated with the roots of plants. Roots benefit in getting minerals from the environment, while fungi get food from the plant in return through such an association.
- Neurospora has been a favourite experimental material in Genetics.
- Various antibiotics are derived from fungi. Penicillin is obtained from Penicillium notatum. Its antibiotic effect was discovered by chance by Alexander Fleming in 1927.
12. Draw labelled diagrams of the following:
(i) A series of stages in the budding of yeast.
(ii) Magnified view of the bread mould growing on bread.
(i) Budding of Yeast
(ii) Bread mould growing on bread
