Algae

Terrestrial: on earth, Aerophytes: on air, Cryophytes: on ice,
Thermophytes: on high Temp. >450C

Unusual habit: hypersaline/excess salt.
Difference between algae And fungi
Difference Between Algae And Fungi
Algae Fungi
The term originated from Latin Originated in Latin and it means
and it means “Seaweed” “mushroom”
Fungi were once classified under
Algae belong to the Kingdom
Kingdom Protista, but are now classified
Protista
under their own kingdom – Fungi
Are usually heterotrophic. They prefer
Algae are autotrophic organisms
dead organic matter.
Strictly exists in bodies of water
Found almost everywhere, including
or any environment with high
deserts and frigid/cold environments
moisture content
Are not parasitic Some members are parasitic
Similarities between Algae and Fungi

Following are the important similarities between algae and fungi:
 Both algae and fungi are thallophytes (plant or plant like

organisms).
 Vascular tissue is absent in both groups.
 Algae and fungi are eukaryotes (exception blue-green
algae).
 Both are placed together in division thallophyta.
 Both can reproduce by fragmentation.
 Both can reproduce asexually.
 Their reproductive organs do not have a protective covering.
Importance of algae
Economic Importance of Algae
The economic importance of algae can be
divided into two headings.
A. Beneficial roles of algae.
B. Harmful roles of algae.
A. Beneficial Roles of Algae
1. Primary Producers:
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.
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
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.
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 isa 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 (reduce the capacity of absorbency) in leather and textile
industries.

It is used in paper making.
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 .creHfrjs etc.
5. They are also used in the production of plastics, rubber and artificial
fibres.
Top 6 Types of Classification of
Algae
The top six basis of Classification of Algae.
1. Nuclear Organization
2. Nature of Cell Wall Components
3. Pigmentation and Photosynthetic Apparatus
4. Nature of Reserve Food.
Type # 1. Nuclear Organization:
On the basis of nuclear organization algae can be
prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
Cyanophyceae or blue green algae are prokaryotic in nature

whereas all other classes of algae are eukaryotic. In
prokaryotic e.g., Cyanophyceae—nucleus is not organized as
nuclear membrane is absent.
DNA fibrils are free in nucleoplasm and are not associated

with histones. Cell division by mitosis and meiosis is not
found. Membrane bound cell organelle like chloroplast,
mitochondria and ER are absent. Eukaryotic algae have well
differentiated nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast and
endoplasmic reticulum in their cell structure.
Type # 2. Nature of Cell Wall Components:
The cell wall in algae is generally made up of

polysaccharides. In some cases lipids and proteins are also
present in them. The inner layer of cell wall in algae is
generally made up of cellulose, which is insoluble
polysaccharide and the outer layer is made of pectic
substances.
The cell wall in Chlorophyceae is made up of cellulose. In

Xanthophyceae pectic substance is more common.
In Chrysophyceae cell wall is non-cellulosic which is silicified

or calcified. In Phaeophyceae cell wall contains alginic acid
and fucinic acid. In Rhodophyceae the cell wall is made of
non-cellulosic polysaccharides like xylans and galactans. In
Cyanophyceae or blue green algae the cell wall is more like
bacteria and is made up of mucopeptides.
Type # 3. Pigmentation and Photosynthetic Apparatus:

The pigment is one of the most important criteria used in
differentiation of classes in algae, as algae were initially and
primarily separated on the basis of colour e.g.,
green algae,
red algae,
brown algae or
blue-green algae.
The pigments in algae can be chlorophylls, carotenoids and

biloproteins.
These pigments are present in sac like structures called

thylakoids. The thylakoids are arranged in stacks in granum
of the chloroplasts. Different groups of algae have different
types of pigments and organization of thylakoids in
chloroplast.
The pigments in algae are:

Chlorophylls:
The chlorophylls in algae are chlorophyll a, b, c, d and e
types.
Chlorophyll a is present in all classes of algae.
Chlorophyll b is primary pigment of Chlorophyceae and

Euglenineae.
Chlorophyll c is found in Phaeophyceae and Cryptophyceae.
Chlorophyll d is found in Rhodophyceae.
Chlorophyll e is confined to Tribonema of Xanthophyceae.
Carotenoids:
The carotenoids are of two kinds: Carotenes and
Xanthophyll’s.
Among the carotenoids, β carotene is found in all classes of

algae.
∝ Carotene is found in Rhodophyceae.
ϒ Carotene and lycopene are found in Chlorophyceae.
e Carotene is present in Bacillariophyceae.
There are about 20 types of xanthophyll’s commonly found in

algae e.g., Neoxanthin, neo-fucoxanthin, fucoxanthin,
chaetoxanthin, siphonoxanthin, oscillatoxanthin. As these
xanthophyll’s are restricted to certain classes, the
xanthophyll’s are important diagnostic characteristics of
algae.
Biloproteins:
The biloproteins are water soluble pigments and can be
phycocyanin, phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin. These are
common only in Rhodophyceae and Cyanophyceae.
In Rhodophyceae, R-phycoerythrin is the chief pigment and
in Cyanophyceae, C-phycocyanin is the chief pigment.
The chromatophores of different classes of algae differ in

number of thylakoids per granum. In Chlorophyceae there
are 2-6 thylakoids per granum and the pyrenoids are
covered with starch plates.
In Xanthophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Bacillariophyceae

there are 3 thylakoids per granum and pyrenoids are without
starch plates.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
In Rhodophyceae thylakoids are single and widely separated

in chromatophores and pyrenoids are naked.
In Cyanophyceae the thylakoids are free in cytoplasm as

chloroplasts are not found and pyrenoids are also absent.
Type # 4. Nature of Reserve Food:

The primary product of photosynthesis i.e., starch is same in
all groups of algae but due to accumulation of food over long
period the nature of insoluble reserve food may be different.
The nature of reserve food can be a criterion for distinction
of different groups of algae.
In Chlorophyceae the reserve food is starch.
In Xanthophyceae oil and leucosine are reserve food

materials.
In Rhodophyceae rhodophycean or floridean starch and
in Cyanophyceae myxophycean starches are the

reserve foods.
In Phaeophyceae the reserve food material is laminarin
or mannitol.
Type # 5. Flagellation:
The type, number and position of flagella are important
basis for separation of different classes of algae. (Fig. 1.A-D).
In Cyanophyceae and Rhodophyceae flagella are completely

absent in vegetative and reproductive structures. In all other
classes the basic flagellar structure is similar. The flagella
have 9 + 2 pattern of component fibrils.
The flagella can be acronematic (Fig. 2B) or whiplash,

pleuronematic or tinsel and prasionate in type.
In Chlorophyceae flagella are 2 (Fig. 2A), 4 or indefinite in
number, apical or sub-apical in position and acronematic
type i.e., isokontic.
In
Xanthophyceae flagella are two, unequal apical one
acronematic and one pantonematic i.e., heterokontic.
tonematic flagella, (C)
In Phaeophyceae flagella are two lateral, one acronematic
and one pantonematic and unequal in size. flagellum.
In Prasinophyceae, prasionate type flagella are found. These

are pantonematic and covered by minute hairs.
Type # 6. Type of Life Cycle and Reproduction:

The presence or absence of sexual reproduction, complexity
of reproductive organs, method of sexual reproduction i.e.,
isogamy, anisogamy and oogamy are important criteria of
classification in algae. Haplontic life cycle, diplontic life
cycle and triphasic life cycles are characteristic of different
groups.
For example, sexual reproduction is completely absent in

Cyanophyceae. The reproduction is oogamous and life cycles
are usually complex in Rhodophyceae and Phaeophyceae. In
Chlorophyceae the reproduction can be isogamous,
anisogamous and oogamous, the life cycle can be simple or
complex.

Algae

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Algae

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Algae

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Terrestrial: on earth, Aerophytes: on air, Cryophytes: on ice,

Thermophytes: on high Temp. >450C

Similarities between Algae and Fungi

 Both algae and fungi are thallophytes (plant or plant like

A. Beneficial roles of algae.

B. Harmful roles of algae.

A. Beneficial Roles of Algae

b.Algae as Nitrogen Fixers (Biofertilizers)

c. Algae used for Reclamation of Soils

a.Agar-agar "Agar-agaf isa gelatinous, polysaccharide obtained from some

1. Alginic acid is used in making antibiotic capsules like aureomycin.

2. It is used as painting pastes in textile industry.

4.Alginates are used as emulsifiers in toothpaste^ice .creHfrjs etc.

Type # 1. Nuclear Organization:

On the basis of nuclear organization algae can be

Cyanophyceae or blue green algae are prokaryotic in nature

DNA fibrils are free in nucleoplasm and are not associated

Type # 2. Nature of Cell Wall Components:

The cell wall in algae is generally made up of

The cell wall in Chlorophyceae is made up of cellulose. In

In Chrysophyceae cell wall is non-cellulosic which is silicified

Type # 3. Pigmentation and Photosynthetic Apparatus:

The pigments in algae can be chlorophylls, carotenoids and

These pigments are present in sac like structures called

The pigments in algae are:

Chlorophyll a is present in all classes of algae.

Chlorophyll b is primary pigment of Chlorophyceae and

Chlorophyll c is found in Phaeophyceae and Cryptophyceae.

Chlorophyll d is found in Rhodophyceae.

Chlorophyll e is confined to Tribonema of Xanthophyceae.

Among the carotenoids, β carotene is found in all classes of

∝ Carotene is found in Rhodophyceae.

ϒ Carotene and lycopene are found in Chlorophyceae.

e Carotene is present in Bacillariophyceae.

There are about 20 types of xanthophyll’s commonly found in

The chromatophores of different classes of algae differ in

In Xanthophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Bacillariophyceae

In Rhodophyceae thylakoids are single and widely separated

In Cyanophyceae the thylakoids are free in cytoplasm as

Type # 4. Nature of Reserve Food:

In Chlorophyceae the reserve food is starch.

In Xanthophyceae oil and leucosine are reserve food

In Rhodophyceae rhodophycean or floridean starch and

in Cyanophyceae myxophycean starches are the

In Cyanophyceae and Rhodophyceae flagella are completely

The flagella can be acronematic (Fig. 2B) or whiplash,

In Prasinophyceae, prasionate type flagella are found. These

Type # 6. Type of Life Cycle and Reproduction:

For example, sexual reproduction is completely absent in

You might also like