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Debasis Sahoo(DS Sir)
Lect. In Botany
DATE- 14/09/2024
Structure of Lichens
Lichens are categorized into three main forms based on their structure:
1. Crustose Lichens: These lichens form a crust-like layer that is tightly attached to the
surface of rocks, soil, or tree bark. They are hard to remove without damaging the
surface.
o Example: Graphis scripta (Script Lichen)
2. Foliose Lichens: These have a leaf-like structure that loosely attaches to the substrate.
They are easier to remove and have a flat, lobed appearance.
o Example: Parmelia sulcata (Hammered Shield Lichen)
3. Fruticose Lichens: These lichens have a shrubby or branched appearance, and they are
often found hanging from trees or growing upright.
o Example: Cladonia rangiferina (Reindeer Lichen)
Ecological Importance of Lichens
1. Pioneer Species: Lichens are often the first organisms to colonize barren environments
such as rocks and volcanic areas, contributing to soil formation by breaking down rocks
into smaller particles.
2. Bioindicators: Lichens are highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly air
pollution. Their absence or presence in an area can indicate air quality, especially the levels
of sulfur dioxide.
3. Habitat for Microorganisms: Lichens provide a microhabitat for small organisms like mites
and insects.
4. Food Source: Lichens serve as food for animals such as reindeer and caribou, particularly in
Arctic regions where other vegetation is scarce.
Applications of Lichens
1. Dyes and Pigments: Lichens have been historically used to produce natural dyes for fabrics.
For example, litmus, a common pH indicator, is derived from lichen extracts.
2. Traditional Medicine: Some lichens are used in folk medicine for their antibiotic and anti-
inflammatory properties. Usnic acid, a compound found in lichens, has antibacterial
properties.
3. Food: Lichens such as Cetraria islandica (Iceland moss) are used as food in some cultures,
particularly in Arctic regions.
4. Perfume Industry: Certain lichens, particularly oakmoss (Evernia prunastri), are used in the
production of perfumes due to their pleasant fragrance.
5. Biomonitoring: Lichens are widely used as bioindicators to monitor air quality, especially to
detect levels of sulfur dioxide and heavy metals.
1. Which of the following is NOT a feature of viruses? 5. Which of the following viruses infects plants?
a) Cellular structure a) Adenovirus
b) Genetic material
b) Tobacco Mosaic Virus
c) Capsid
d) Obligate parasitism c) Hepatitis B
2. What is the protein shell of a virus called? d) Polio virus
6. HIV targets which type of cells?
a) Capsid
b) Envelope a) Erythrocytes
c) Nucleoid b) Neurons
d) Capsomere c) T-helper cells (CD4+)
3. What is the function of reverse transcriptase in d) Liver cells
7. The viral envelope is primarily composed of:
retroviruses?
a) Lipids derived from the host cell membrane
a) Replication of viral DNA
b) Viral RNA
b) Translation of viral mRNA
c) Capsomeres
c) Conversion of RNA into DNA
d) Bacterial cell wall
d) Lysis of host cells
8. Viruses that infect bacteria are known as:
4. In bacteriophages, the tail structure is used for:
a) Viroids
a) Locomotion
b) Bacteriophages
b) Attaching to the host cell
c) Retroviruses
c) Replicating inside the host
d) Prions
d) Forming new virions
9. Which feature is absent in viroids? 13. What is the structural difference between viroids and
a) Pathogenicity viruses?
b) Infectivity a) Viroids lack a protein coat
c) DNA b) Viroids have DNA
d) RNA c) Viruses lack nucleic acids
10. Viroids consist of which type of RNA? d) Viruses lack genetic material
a) Single-stranded circular RNA 14. Which of the following diseases is caused by viroids?
b) Double-stranded RNA a) AIDS
c) Single-stranded linear RNA b) Hepatitis
d) Double-stranded circular RNAA c) Potato spindle tuber disease
11. Which of the following statements about viroids is d) Tobacco mosaic disease
true? 15. Viroids belong to which kingdom?
a) Viroids can infect animals a) Monera
b) Viroids can reproduce outside a host b) Protista
c) Viroids cause animal diseases c) Plantae
d) Viroids cause plant diseases d) None of the above
12. What is the mode of action of viroids in plants? 16. Which of the following proteins is absent in viroids?
a) Inhibit DNA replication a) Capsid proteins
b) Disrupt protein synthesis b) RNA polymerase
c) Interfere with RNA transcription c) Helicase
d) Alter host gene expression d) All of the above
17. What is a viroid? 19. Which of the following organisms is the target of
a) A small infectious RNA molecule without a protein coat bacteriophages?
b) A type of DNA virus a) Animals
c) A bacteriophage b) Bacteria
d) A virus that infects animals c) Plants
d) Fungi
18. Which of the following statements is correct about 20. The protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid of a
prions? virus is called:
a) Prions are made of RNA a) Capsid
b) Prions are infectious proteins without genetic material b) Envelope
c) Prions infect only plants c) Spike
d) Prions are a type of virus d) Membrane
 5. Lichens are indicators of which environmental factor?
1. What type of relationship is observed in lichens?
a) Water quality
a) Parasitic
b) Air pollution
b) Commensalism
c) Soil pH
c) Mutualism
d) Temperature
d) Predation 6. What is the primary role of the fungal component in a
2. What is the fungal partner in a lichen called? lichen?
a) Mycorrhiza a) Fixing nitrogen
b) Photobiont b) Providing water and minerals
c) Mycobiont c) Producing carbohydrates
d) Basidiobiont d) Photosynthesis
7. What do cyanobacteria contribute to lichens?
3. Which is the photosynthetic partner in a lichen?
a) Nitrogen fixation
a) Cyanobacteria
b) Organic carbon
b) Green algae
c) Both a and b
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b
d) Fungus
8. Lichens are often the first organisms to colonize bare rocks.
4. Which of the following is not a type of lichen?
This makes them...
a) Crustose
a) Parasites
b) Fruticose
b) Pathogens
c) Foliose
c) Pioneer species
d) Mycorrhizal
d) Secondary colonizers
9. Which component of the lichen is autotrophic? 12. Which lichen is commonly used in dye preparation?
a) Fungal component a) Usnea
b) Cyanobacterial component b) Parmelia
c) Both c) Cladonia
d) Neither d) Xanthoria
10. Lichens are absent in areas with... 13. Which of the following is used in the perfume industry?
a) High sulfur dioxide levels a) Reindeer moss
b) High moisture b) Oakmoss
c) Low temperature c) Graphis
d) Low pH d) Xanthoria
11. Which of the following is a major component of 14. Which lichen is used in the production of dyes and litmus?
the lichen thallus? a) Usnea
a) Vascular tissue b) Cetraria
b) Xylem c) Cladonia
c) Fungal hyphae d) Parmelia
d) Collenchyma
Thank
You