Transcript Lower plants as food – Algae series

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,
Kelp
Pelagophycus phora
Caulerpa
Chara
chondrus crispus - Irish moss
Codium
Nostoc
Halophila spinulosa
Hydrodictyon
Macrocystis pyrifera
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. platensis
Spirulina is reported to have 60% protein content
which is superior to meat, milk, egg and soybean
It 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 agar packets
Agar powder
Caulerpa sps.
Algae in fresh water
MINERAL CONTENTS
Potassium, sodium and chloride salts
found in the sea weeds.
are
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 valida
Diatom 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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