Question

From which of the following algae, agar is commercially extracted:
(a) Gracilaria
(b) Fucus
(c) Sargassum
(d) Gelidium
(e) Turbinaria

• A. $a,d$
• B. $c,e$
• C. $b,c$
• D. $d,e$
• E. $a,b$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$a,d$

• Agar is extracted from Gracilaria and Gelidium.
• Agar is derived from polysaccharide; agarose, present in specific species of these algae.
• These algae are known as agarophytes and belong to phylum Rhodophyta. It is a red algae.
• The nature of agar is too gelatinous.
• Thus, the correct answer is option A.