Question

Make a list of algae and fungi that have commercial value as source of food, chemicals, medicines and fodder.

Answer 1

A. Economic importance of Algae:

1. Many species of Porphyra, Laminaria and Sargassum are among the 70 species of marine, algae used as food. Chlorella and Spirulina are unicellular algae, rich in proteins and are used as food supplements even by space travellers.
2. Certain marine brown and red algae produce large amounts of hydrocolloids (water holding substances) or phycocolloids, e.g.: algin (brown algae) and carrageen (red algae) are used commercially. Agar, one of the commercial products obtained from Gelidium and Gracilaria is used to grow microbes and in preparations of ice creams and jellies.
3. Bromine is obtained from red algae Polysiphonia. Macrocystis is the source of Potash. Laminaria and Fucus are the sources of Iodine.

B. Economic importance of Fungi:

1. Mushrooms, morels (Morchella) and truffles are edible fungi.
2. Microbes are mainly yeasts used for the production of beverages like wine, beer, whisky, brandy or rum. For this purpose the yeast {Saccharomyces cerevisiae) used for fermenting malted cereals and juices to produce ethanol and is commonly called Brewer’s yeast.

• Cyclosporin A is produced by Trichoderma polysporum (Fungus). Cyclosporin A is used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplant patients.
• Statins are produced by Monascus purpureus (Yeast). Statins are used as the blood-cholesterol-lowering agent.

Penicillin	Penicillium notatum and Penicillium chrysogenum
Griseofulvin	Penicillium griseofulvum
Cephalosporin	Cephalosporium acremonium
Gentomycin	Micromonospora purpurea