Question

In what form is food stored in brown algae?

Answer 1

Algae :

Chlorophyll-bearing, simple, thalloid, autotrophic, and largely aquatic organisms found in both marine and freshwater habitats.

Algae are divided into three classes :

1. Chlorophyceae
2. Phaeophyceae
3. Rhodophyceae

Chlorophyceae :

1. These are commonly called green algae.
2. They are usually grass green color due to the presence of chlorophyll a and b.
3. Majority of the members have one or more than one storage body called pyrenoids found in the chloroplast. It stores starch and protein.
4. Some examples are - Chlamydomonas, Volvox

Phaeophyceae:

1. These are commonly known as brown algae.
2. They possess a,c, xanthophylls, and carotenoids.
3. Food is stored in the form of complex carbohydrates, mostly in the laminarin or mannitol form.
4. Some examples are Ectocarpus and Dictyota.

Rhodophyceae :

1. These are commonly called red algae.
2. The food is stored as floridean starch which is very similar to amylopectin and glycogen in structure.
3. Some examples are Gracilaria and Gelidium.