ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ALGAE

Economic Importance of Algae Beneficial roles of algae 1.Primary Producers: 2. Algae as Food 3. Algae as fodder 4. Algae in Agriculture 5. Algae in Industries Algae in Sewage Disposal 7.Algae and Research 8.Algae Producing, Growth Hormones Harmful aspects of Algae Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Beneficial roles of algae 1.Primary Producers: 2. Algae as Food 3. Algae as fodder 4. Algae in Agriculture 5. Algae in Industries Algae in Sewage Disposal 7.Algae and Research 8.Algae Producing, Growth Hormones Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

1. Class – Chlorophyceae (Grass Green algae) Algae are the main Oxygen producers in aquatic areas. They are also useful in decreasing water pollution by realizing Oxygen. 10% of photosynthesis is occurred by the algae in total photosynthesis quantity. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Beneficial roles of algae 1.Primary Producers: 2. Algae as Food 3. Algae as fodder 4. Algae in Agriculture 5. Algae in Industries Algae in Sewage Disposal 7.Algae and Research 8.Algae Producing, Growth Hormones Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

1. Class – Chlorophyceae (Grass Green algae) Algae are the main Oxygen producers in aquatic areas. They are also useful in decreasing water pollution by realizing Oxygen. 10% of photosynthesis is occurred by the algae in total photosynthesis quantity. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

2. Algae as Food Many freshwater and marine algae have been utilized as a direct source of food. Algae are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, oils, vitamins A,B,C and E and minerals Example Cyanophyceae (or) Blue green algae – Nostoc & Spirullina Brown Algae – Sargassum Green Algae – Chlorella

Sea-weed meal increases the egg-laying capacity of poultry. 3. Algae as fodder Many sea-weeds are directly used as feed for cattle, poultry and aquatic organisms. Example: Laminaria and Fucus Sea-weed meal increases the egg-laying capacity of poultry.   4. Algae in Agriculture a. Algae as Green Manure Sargassum, and Gracilaria are commonly used as green manures in agriculture. Sea weed manure increases the yield of barley, potato, coconut palms, citrus, etc. b. Algae as Nitrogen Fixers (Biofertilizers) Many blue-green algae have the ability to fix the atmo­spheric nitrogen in the soil. e.g.: Nostoc, Anabaena, Spirulina c. Algae used for Reclamation of Soils Saline and alkaline soils can be converted into productive soil by growing some blue-green algae. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

It is used as sizing agent in leather and textile indus­tries. 5. Algae in Industries In industries, many algae have been used as sources for the extraction of commercial products such as agar-agar, carrageenin, algin and diatomite. a. Agar-agar " Agar agaf is a gelatinous, polysaccharide obtained from some red-algae such as Gelidium, Gracilaria and Gigqrtina. Agar-agar is used for making artificial culture media for algae, fungi, bacteria and plant tissues in biological laboratories. It is used as emulsifier in the preparation icecreams, fruit jellies and dairy products. It is used as sizing agent in leather and textile indus­tries. It is used in paper making. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Alginic acid is extracted from Laminaria, Macrocystis andAscophyllum. b. Algin Alginic acid is extracted from Laminaria, Macrocystis andAscophyllum. 1. Alginic acid is used in making antibiotic capsules like aureomycin. 2. It is used as painting pastes in textile industry. 3. It is used as thickeners in cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, paints and polishes. 4.Alginates are used as emulsifiers in toothpaste,ice .cream etc. 5. They are also used in the production of plastics, rubber and artificial fibres. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Food scientists (not cooks -- food scientists make processed foods) use these substances for four main reasons: They thicken things: Ice cream, marshmallow fluff, pancake syrup, etc., all benefit from thickening. They emulsify things: They help liquids to stay mixed together without separating. They change the texture: Generally, a gum will make something thicker or chewier. They stabilize crystals: A gum might help prevent sugar or ice from crystallizing.

Diatomite is a rock like deposit formed by the c. Carrageenin Carrageenin is a mucilaginous substance extracted from red alga Chondrus crispus and Gigartina. It is used in food industry, textiles, pharmaceutical in­dustry and leather industry.   d. Diatomite Diatomite is a rock like deposit formed by the deposition of siliceous cell walls of diatoms over millions of years back. Some of the uses of diatoma­ceous earth are- 1. Diatomite is used as filtering medium for oils and solvents. 2. It is used as cleaning agent for some solvents. 3. It catalyses dehydrogenation of vegetable oils. 4. It is used in the insulation of refrigerators, boilers, pipes, etc. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Diatomite is a rock like deposit formed by the c. Carrageenin Carrageenin is a mucilaginous substance extracted from red alga Chondrus crispus and Gigartina. It is used in food industry, textiles, pharmaceutical in­dustry and leather industry.   d. Diatomite Diatomite is a rock like deposit formed by the deposition of siliceous cell walls of diatoms over millions of years back. Some of the uses of diatoma­ceous earth are- 1. Diatomite is used as filtering medium for oils and solvents. 2. It is used as cleaning agent for some solvents. 3. It catalyses dehydrogenation of vegetable oils. 4. It is used in the insulation of refrigerators, boilers, pipes, etc. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Algae in Sewage Disposal Some species like Chlamydomonas, Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Pondorhina, Euridina, etc are living in sewage water. They are mainly useful to clean the water by realizing Oxygen. They also modified the carbonate material in the water into N, P, K fertilizers. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Blue-green algae are used in studies on nitrogen fixation. 6.Algae and Research In biological research algae are useful because of their rapid growth, brief life span and easy mode of cultivation. Chlorella, Scenedesmus and Anacystis are used in investigations in photosynthesis. Blue-green algae are used in studies on nitrogen fixation. 7.Algae Producing, Growth Hormones Growth hormones like Indole acetic acid (IAA) is extracted from algae like Laminaria, Fucus, etc. 8.Algae in Space: Chlorella and Synechococcus are finding application in space ships and nuclear submarines as oxygen regenerating and food and water recycling organisms. Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

Harmful aspects of Algae Some algae species like Microcystis, Lyngbya are develop water blooms in water areas. They secrete toxic materials into water and polluted the water. Some algae species are caused for some skin diseases. Dianophlagellate is caused for the death of fishes in water.   Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology G.V.N. College, Kovilpatti.

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