Question

Alginic acid is produced by the cell walls of

• A. green algae
• B. brown algae
• C. red algae
• D. all the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B brown algae

The common component of the cell wall of algae is cellulose. In addition to cellulose, brown algae (Phaeophyceae) cell walls are made up of alginic acid or algin, a gelatinous coating of anionic polysaccharides distributed widely in brown algae cell walls. It is a phycocolloid obtained commercially from Laminaria, Macrocystis, Nereocystis, Fucus, Sargassum, etc.

The red algae (Rhodophyceae) cell walls consist of pectin and poly sulphate esters, whereas green algae (Chlorophyceae) consists only of cellulose in their cell walls.