Given below are two statements: Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Assertion (A): Fungi is the largest microbial biomass in the soil and are very effective decomposers of plant material. Reason (R): Bacteria are the most abundant soil inhabitants and are active in decomposition of organic matter.

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (B) Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation:
• Assertion (A) is correct: While bacteria are more numerous, fungi actually make up the largest part of the microbial *biomass* in most soils because of their large hyphal networks. They are specialized in breaking down complex polymers like lignin and cellulose.
• Reason (R) is correct: In terms of individual cell *numbers* (abundance), bacteria are the most numerous organisms in the soil, often reaching billions per gram. They are also vital for decomposing simpler organic compounds.
• Why (R) is not the explanation for (A): The fact that bacteria are 'abundant' (high in numbers) does not explain why fungi have 'larger biomass' (mass/volume). These are two different metrics of the soil microbial community.

Information Booster:
• Mycorrhizal fungi are a specific group of soil fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, helping them absorb phosphorus.

Additional Knowledge:
• Fungi: Dominate in acidic and forest soils.
• Bacteria: Often dominate in neutral to alkaline soils and are key players in the nitrogen cycle (nitrification/denitrification).