Question Video: Identifying Organisms Belonging to Kingdom Plantae | Nagwa Question Video: Identifying Organisms Belonging to Kingdom Plantae | Nagwa

Question Video: Identifying Organisms Belonging to Kingdom Plantae Biology • First Year of Secondary School

Which of the following organisms would not be classified into the kingdom Plantae? [A] Conifer [B] Moss [C] Fern [D] Yeast

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Video Transcript

Which of the following organisms would not be classified into the kingdom Plantae? (A) Conifer, (B) moss, (C) fern, or (D) yeast.

This question is asking us about the organisms in the kingdom Plantae, so let’s start by reviewing some of the key facts about this kingdom. There is an incredibly diverse range of organisms on Earth. To make it easier to study them, scientists have classified them into groups, a process known as taxonomy. In 1969, the scientist Robert Whittaker proposed the five-kingdom classification system. This placed all organisms into one of the following kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia, according to their characteristics.

As the question focuses on the kingdom Plantae, let’s look at this kingdom more closely. Nearly 400,000 different species of plants have been identified in the kingdom Plantae. But they are all linked by some common characteristics. These characteristics are important for classification. Let’s review them so that we can answer the question correctly.

All plants are eukaryotic, which means their cells have a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. For structure and support, they have cell walls made of cellulose around the outside of the cell. They are autotrophic, which means they make their own food. They do this by the process called photosynthesis whereby carbon dioxide and water are converted into sugars, such as glucose, and oxygen in the presence of sunlight. This occurs in the chloroplasts, which are organelles containing the green pigment chlorophyll to absorb the sunlight.

Having reviewed some of the key characteristics of plants, let’s return to our question and approach each option to determine which organism does not have these specific characteristics.

Conifers, such as firs and pines, belong to the class Gymnospermae. They are vascular trees and shrubs that are evergreen and have needlelike leaves. They contain chloroplasts so photosynthesize and are classified in the kingdom Plantae. This means option (A) is incorrect.

Mosses belong to the phylum Bryophyta, which are nonvascular plants. They are green, as their leaves contain chlorophyll, so they can photosynthesize. They may have structures called rhizoids to help anchor the plant into the ground. They form dense green mats in shady damp locations. As they are also plants, option (B) can be eliminated.

Ferns belong to the class Filicatae. They are green and also photosynthesize. Most ferns are found as herbs. Some are shrubs or trees. They have stems, leaves, and roots and reproduce via spores. Ferns are also classified as plants, so option (C) is incorrect.

Yeast are eukaryotic single-celled organisms. Their cell wall is made of chitin, not cellulose. They do not have chloroplasts so cannot photosynthesize. Instead, they have to feed saprophytically by secreting digestive enzymes onto their food and absorbing the products. They do not belong to the kingdom Plantae. They are members of the kingdom Fungi. So the correct answer is (D). The organism that would not be classified into the kingdom Plantae is yeast.

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