Which feature seen in chytrids supports the hypothesis that they diverged earliest in fungal evolution?

Option D

Explanation:

Complete Question -

Which feature seen in chytrids supports the hypothesis that they diverged earliest in fungal evolution?

A) Parasitic lifestyle

B) Coenocytic hyphae

C) The absence of chitin within the cell wall

D) Flagellated spores

E) Formation of resistant zygosporangia

Solution -

Members of the chytrids family are believed to originate from the fungi as they produce flagellated spores just like fungi. However, flagella is absent in all other phyla's of Fungi.

Chytrids being descendants to fungi have micro tubular substructure in the flagella and reproduce asexually. Except flagella, their morphology very different from the morphology of the fungi. The Chytridiomycota group earlier consisted of all flagellated fungi but now the group has been divided into three phyla's Blastocladiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Neocallimastigomycota

Hence, option D is correct