Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): In R.H. Whittaker's classification, fungi were separated from plants and placed in a distinct kingdom, unlike in the earlier two-kingdom system. Reason (R): Fungi are heterotrophic organisms with a chitinous cell wall, whereas plants are autotrophic organisms with a cellulosic cell wall. In the lig

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true because the earlier two-kingdom system grouped fungi with plants since both possessed a cell wall, but R.H. Whittaker placed them in a separate Kingdom Fungi. Reason (R) is also true and provides the exact biological justification for this separation. Whittaker's classification criteria included cell wall composition and mode of nutrition. Fungi are heterotrophic with chitinous cell walls, which fundamentally distinguishes them from autotrophic plants that have cellulosic cell walls. Therefore