Cell wall of any fungus 'is different from plants in having

The cell wall of a fungus is primarily distinguished from that of a plant by its chemical composition. While plant cell walls are mainly composed of cellulose, which provides rigidity and strength [2], fungal cell walls are characterized by the presence of chitin [4]. Chitin is a long-chain polysaccharide that forms a structural microfiber matrix within the fungal cell wall, often linked with glucans [1]. This chitinous layer is essential for maintaining cellular integrity, protecting against external stress, and facilitating growth [3]. In contrast, cellulose is the defining structural component of plant cell walls [2]. Other options like cholesterol are typically found in animal cell membranes, and glycogen serves as a storage carbohydrate in fungi and animals rather than a structural cell wall component. Therefore, the presence of chitin is the key differentiating factor for fungal cell walls.

Sources

1. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 13
2. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/fungal-cell-wall
3. [4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31807896/
4. [3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15256547/