AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Spores are covered by thick protective walls that shield them from unfavourable conditions such as drought, heat, or lack of nutrients. This means Rhizopus can survive harsh environments and resume growth only when conditions (moisture, warmth) become suitable again.
Fragmentation in Spirogyra, however, requires the organism to already be in a favourable, moist environment — the fragments have no protective covering and cannot withstand desiccation or stress.
Thus, spore formation is more advantageous because spores ensure survival during adversity, whereas fragmentation succeeds only under continuously favourable conditions.
Source: Chapter 7, Section 7.2.6 – Spore Formation; Section 7.2.2 – Fragmentation
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The examiner expects you to link the structural feature (thick-walled spores) directly to the functional advantage (survival in unfavourable conditions) and then contrast it with fragmentation's limitation (needs continuously favourable conditions). Avoid writing in general terms — always tie structure → function → condition. These three points map neatly to 3 marks.