The correct option is (c) 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Algae are simple, chlorophyll-bearing, thalloid organisms. They reproduce by vegetative, asexual, and sexual methods depending on environmental conditions and the specific species.- Statement 1 is Correct: Algae reproduce asexually through the production of various types of spores. The most common asexual spores are zoospores. These are flagellated (motile) and, upon germination, give rise to new plants.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Algae are classified as cryptogams (plants without seeds or flowers). Seed formation is a characteristic exclusive to Phanerogams (Gymnosperms and Angiosperms). Even under favorable conditions with abundant nutrients, algae reproduce via fragmentation or spores, never by seeds.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Vegetative reproduction in algae commonly occurs through fragmentation. During this process, the algal body breaks into distinct fragments, and each fragment develops into a new thallus (individual organism). This is frequently observed in filamentous algae like Spirogyra.
Key Takeaway: Algae reproduce vegetatively by fragmentation, asexually by spores (such as zoospores), and sexually by the fusion of gametes. They do not possess the biological structures required to form seeds.