Which of the following observations would best support the hypothesis that the ability to form mycorrhizal associations arose very early in plant evolution?
A) presence of genes in the earliest fungi that showed an ability to digest cellulose and lignin
B) presence of genes for chitin in the oldest flowering plants and oldest fungi
C) fossils that show hyphae wrapped around seeds
D) formation of mycorrhizae by a flowering plant that expresses a gene from a liverwort

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The formation of mycorrhizae by a flowering plant expressing a gene from a liverwort suggests that the genetic basis for mycorrhizal associations was present in early plant lineages, supporting the idea that this ability arose early in plant evolution.

Which of the Following Observations Would Best Support the Hypothesis