Question

puffballs and milkweeds have fewer similarities in their rna28s gene sequences than puffballs and candlesnuff fungi have. this piece of evidence supports the following claim:
puffballs share a more recent common ancestor with candlesnuff fungi than with milkweeds.
which additional piece of evidence best supports the same claim?
puffball cell walls contain various polysaccharides, including about 4% chitin and 25% glucose polymers but no cellulose. candlesnuff fungus cell walls have about 2% chitin and 12% glucose polymers but no cellulose. milkweed cell walls are composed of about 50% cellulose, with few other glucose polymers, and no chitin.
puffballs form spherical above - ground structures. candlesnuff fungi form thin above - ground structures with some branching. milkweeds form above - ground bushes with extensive branching.
when puffballs become dry, they burst and release propagules, or reproductive units, that are dispersed by the wind. candlesnuff fungi have external propagules that are dispersed by the wind. when milkweed pods become dry, they split open and release propagules that are dispersed by the wind.

Explanation:

To support the claim that puffballs share a more recent common ancestor with candlesnuff fungi than with milkweeds, we need evidence showing more similarity between puffballs and candlesnuff fungi (and more difference from milkweeds) in a heritable trait (like cell structure, as genetic or anatomical traits are more reliable for evolutionary relationships than behavioral/structural traits that can be convergent).

• The first option: Puffball and candlesnuff fungi cell walls both lack cellulose and have chitin/glucose polymers (puffballs: ~4% chitin, 25% glucose; candlesnuff: ~2% chitin, 12% glucose), while milkweed cell walls have 50% cellulose, no chitin. This shows a shared biochemical trait (cell wall composition) between puffballs and candlesnuff fungi, differing from milkweeds, supporting a closer evolutionary relationship.
• The second option: Above - ground structures (spherical, thin with branching, bushy with branching) are morphological traits that can be convergent (different lineages evolving similar structures for similar environments), so not strong evidence for common ancestry.
• The third option: Wind - dispersed propagules is a dispersal mechanism, which can also be convergent (different organisms evolving wind dispersal independently), so not strong evidence for common ancestry.

So the first piece of evidence best supports the claim.

Answer:

Puffball cell walls contain various polysaccharides, including about 4% chitin and 25% glucose polymers but no cellulose. Candlesnuff fungus cell walls have about 2% chitin and 12% glucose polymers but no cellulose. Milkweed cell walls are composed of about 50% cellulose, with few other glucose polymers, and no chitin.