Which one of the following is not a characteristic feature of fungi ?

Fungi are heterotrophic organisms, meaning they lack chlorophyll and cannot perform photosynthesis. This is the primary reason why Option C is the correct answer, as they must obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their environment as saprophytes or parasites.

• Cell Wall: Fungal cell walls are uniquely composed of chitin and polysaccharides, unlike the cellulose found in plants.
• Structure: Most fungi (except unicellular yeast) are multicellular and consist of slender, thread-like structures called hyphae, which collectively form a network known as mycelium.
• Reproduction: Fungi reproduce through both vegetative and spore-forming methods. They commonly produce asexual spores such as conidia, sporangiospores, or zoospores to propagate.

Because fungi lack the biological machinery for autotrophic nutrition, they cannot carry out photosynthesis.