Question

Under unfavourable conditions Amoeba withdraws its pseudopodia and secretes a three-layered hard covering or cyst around itself. This phenomenon is termed as __________.

• A. fragmentation
• B. encystation
• C. sporulation
• D. none of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B encystation

Under unfavourable conditions Amoeba withdraws its pseudopodia and secretes a three-layered hard covering or cyst around itself. This phenomenon is termed as encystation. When conditions become favourable, the encysted Amoeba divides by the process of multiple fission and produces many pseudopodiospores . The cyst wall then bursts out and liberates the spores in the surrounding medium which then grow up into many adult Amoeba. This phenomenon is known as sporulation.


Fragmentation is also a mode of asexual reproduction. In fragmentation the body of the organism breaks into distinct pieces called fragments. Each fragment grows into an adult capable of producing offspring. Some flatworms and Hydra reproduce by fragmentation.