NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The charophytes (Streptophyta, Virideplantae) are the extant group of green algae that are most closely related to modern land plants.

Detailed explanation-2: -These early land plants were likely similar to modern liverworts, hornworts, and mosses (Fig. 2.30). Vascular plants evolved around 430 million years ago. Their vein-like, vascular tissues distribute water and nutrients throughout the organism.

Detailed explanation-3: -The green algae are basically divided into Charophyte and Chlorophyte algae, and it is agreed that the Charophyte algae are the closest algal relatives of land plants. Analyses of both morphological and molecular data have established that land plants evolved within Charophyte algae more than 450 million years ago.

Detailed explanation-4: -Today it is widely accepted that land plants (embryophytes) evolved from streptophyte algae, also referred to as charophycean algae. The streptophyte algae are a paraphyletic group of green algae, ranging from unicellular flagellates to morphologically complex forms such as the stoneworts (Charales).

Detailed explanation-5: -Green algae contain the same carotenoids and chlorophyll a and b as land plants, whereas other algae have different accessory pigments and types of chlorophyll molecules in addition to chlorophyll a. Both green algae and land plants also store carbohydrates as starch.