Which one of the following has haplontic life cycle?
- Polytrichum
- Ustilago
- Wheat
- Funaria
Answer
(2) Ustilago
Solution
In a haplontic life cycle the free-living, dominant phase is haploid; the zygote is the only diploid stage and undergoes meiosis.
⇒ As per NCERT, the fungal body is haploid; in fungi the diploid phase is brief (only the zygote / short dikaryotic phase), so the fungus Ustilago has a haplontic life cycle.
∵ Polytrichum and Funaria (mosses) are haplo-diplontic, and wheat (a seed plant) is diplontic,
∴ Ustilago has the haplontic life cycle.
Answer: (2)