PLANTS AND HUMAN WELFARE

LOWER PLANTS AS FOOD

ALGAE SERIES

REFERENCES

Economic Botany – B.P.Pandey.www.Google. co.in

USE OF LOWER PLANTS AS FOOD

The plants have the chlorophyll pigments and they have capacity to prepare their own food.

These autotrophs have the property of capturing inexhaustible energy of sun to synthetic organic compound which are vital for the existence of all life on earth.

ALGAE AS FOOD

From the earliest times several sea weeds have been used as direct source of food to human beings.

High mineral elements important in human and animal physiology are found and makes sea weeds a unique supplement for a well balanced diet.

ALGAE AS FOOD

The sea weeds are the richest source of vitamins i.e vitamin A, B and E are found in abundance in sea weeds.

Several important food stuffs prepared by algae are suimono, mitus and dulse etc,

Pelagophycus phora

Kelp

chondrus crispus - Irish mossChara

Caulerpa

Nostoc

Codium

Halophila spinulosa

Macrocystis pyrifera

Hydrodictyon

FOOD FOR SEA ANIMALS AND FISHES

The algae are used as a direct source of food by several sea animals and fishes

The marine algae are rich in iodine and several other important minerals.

This make the fundamental source of food for all marine animals and in this respect sea is the richest food producing area.

Marine planktonic diatoms together with Dinoflagellate are of fundamental biological importance since all life of sea is dependent upon them.

USE OF ALGAE AS FOOD

Since algae are rich in Vitamins and minerals, they form the most important part of the diet of Japan and China.

In our country a few species of Spirogyra and Oedogonium are utilized as food in South India

Japan tops the list in using algae as food and they prepare several sea weeds preparations such as Suimono, Mitsu, Dulse, Laver or Nori.

Other countries like Malaya, Indonesia, Burma and Thailand the sea weeds are used as food.

USE OF ALGAE AS FOOD

Spirulina as food source of protein

The two edible species spirulina which is being domesticated and utilized as food supplement are S. maxima and S. platensisSpirulina is reported to have 60% protein content which is superior to meat, milk, egg and soybeanIt is a fine blend of vitamins, complex containing Beta

carotene and B1,B2,B6, C and E and B12.It contains 5-6 % essential fatty acids and more gamma linolenic acid GLA. Minerals include Selenium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron

and chromium.

SPIRULINA AND ITS PRODUCTS

ALGAE AS AGAR

Agar is a powder obtained from the plant body of marine algae such as Gelidium, Sarconema, Hypnea and Gracilaria

Agar agar is used in the preparation of ice creams, jellies, desserts, in sizing the textiles and clearing many liquids It is also used in preparing shaving cream, cosmetics and shoe polishes.In Biological laboratories it is used as artificial media.

Red algae used for agar preparation

Fresh water algae

Porphyra perforata

Gelidium pulchrum (red algae)

Agar powder

Caulerpa sps.Algae in fresh water

Agar agar packets

MINERAL CONTENTSPotassium, sodium and chloride salts are found in the sea weeds.

Iodine surpasses mineral iodine in drinking water and iodized table salt.

Minerals are important in human metabolism and all of them are present as the trace

elements of sea weeds.

Copper content was found in Sarconema and Acanthophora spicigera.

ALGAE AS SOURCE OF VITAMINS

Vitamin B is found in great abundance in almost all phaeophyceae group of sea weeds.

Vitamin B12 content is higher in green and red algae

Chlorella contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid , choline,

biotin, vitamin B 12 and lipoic acid.

Chlorella

Volvox

ALGAE AS SOURCE OF VITAMINS

Vitamin B is rich in Ulva poryphyra and Vitamin C is rich in Alaria validaDiatom Nitzschia is rich in Vitamin A that is found in liver oils of many fish

USE OF SEAWEEDS AS FERTILIZERS

Macrocystis and Nereocystis posses 80% of potash in their dry weight.

Sea weeds are a store house of the important potash, ionic sulphate , trace elements and growth substances.

USE OF ALGAE AS FODDER FOR HENS AND MILK CATTLE

Cattle foods can be prepared from seaweeds from the brown algae and the processed food is fed to cattle poultry and even pigs.

The iodine quantity of the milk and eggs may sufficiently increased.

Milk yielding and egg laying capaciy of cattle and poultry will also be enhanced.

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