The Leaf-Cutter Ants of Central America Use Leaves as Food

Multiple Choice

The leaf-cutter ants of Central America use leaves as food to cultivate the basidiomycete Lepiota in special underground chambers.Streptomyces bacteria coat parts of the ants' cuticles and secrete a potent antifungal that kills an ascomycete that attacks the cultivated fungus.Lepiota is most closely related to which of the following?

A) The leaf, because it is photosynthetic and has a cell wall.
B) The ant, because it is a multicellular heterotroph.
C) The bacteria, because it secretes digestive enzymes and is single-celled.
D) The bacteria, because it secretes digestive enzymes and has a cell wall.
E) The leaf, because it is multicellular and has a cell wall.