Question

write economic importance of gymnosperms and algae ​

Answer 1

Answer:

Economic Importance of Gymnosperms:

1. Ornamental value:

A number of gymnosperms are grown as ornamental plants, e.g., Cycas, Araucaria, Thuja etc.

2. Food Value:

i. ‘Sago’ starch obtained from pith and cortex of stem of C. revolute, C. rumphi etc.

ii. ‘Seed starch’ obtained from seeds of Cycas rumphii, Dioon edule etc. It is prepared into flour and cooked before eating.

iii. Seeds of Pinus gerardiana (chilgoza) are edible.

iv. ‘Kaffir bread’ prepared from the stem pith of Encephalartos.

v. Young leaves of Cycas cooked as vegetables.

3. Medicinal value:

i. Ephedrine (alkaloid) extracted from Ephedra used in treating asthma, cough, cold, bronchitis etc.  

 

ii. Tincture of Ephedra is a cardiac stimulant.

iii. The juice extracted from young leaves of Cycas revoluta is used for curing blood vomiting and flatulence.

4. Industrial Use:

i. Gum-Cycas gum used as adhesive, antidote for snake bites and using malignant ulcers.

ii. Tannins – Tannins extracted from bark of Araucaria, Pinus, Sequoia etc. used in leather industry.

iii. Canada balsam – It is turpentine obtained from Abies balsamea and used as a mounting medium in biological preparations.

iv. Amber (fossil resin) – obtained from Pinus succinifera. Wood of Pinus is used for doors, poles, beams, railway wagon flooring etc.

v. Plywood prepared from Podocarpus.

vi. Papers like newsprints, writing and printing papers are being prepared from the wood pulp of Pinus, Picea,Abeis, Gnetum etc.

vii. The leaves of cycads are used for preparing baskets, mats, hats, brooms etc.

Economic Importance # 1. Algae Constitute the Link of Food Chain:

Both fresh and salt waters contain an enormous variety of algae which constitute the fundamental or primary link of many diverse food chains. Algae synthesize organic food stuffs, just as do the plants of the land. As the flesh of the land is dependent upon the activities of the green leaf, so the fish and other aquatic forms of animal life are dependent, directly or indirectly, upon algae, and fish in turn are important item in the daily diet of larger sea animals and man.

A number of aquatic algae form the food of fish either directly or indirectly. Diatoms, filamentous and some planktonic green algae, and a number of blue-green algae are very often found in the guts of various species of fresh and brackish water fish and they appear to be directly utilized as fish food.

   

The reserve food materials in these algae, e.g., fats and volutin in the diatoms; starch, often accompanied by oil in the green algae; sugars and glycogen in the blue-green algae; and polysaccharides in Euglena are utilized by fish.

Economic Importance # 2. Algae is Useful in Fish Culture:

That algae are fruitfully utilized in fish culture can very well be indicated from the successful culture of the Siamese fish, Tilapia mossambica which is voracious feeder of filamentous algae. This particular fish has been successfully introduced in different parts of India. A culture of Scenedesmus is often exclusively used as a daily dose of fish meal for the culture T. mossambica.

Economic Importance # 3. Algae is Used for Recreational Purposes:

Certain selected algae are grown in recreational areas like—lakes and streams along with fish.

Economic Importance # 4. Algae is Useful in Sewage Treatment Plants:

Species of Chlamydomonas, Scene­desmus, Chlorella and Euglena are used in sewage treatment plants for providing through photosynthesis the oxygen necessary for rapid decomposition of the sewage by bacteria.

Economic Importance # 5. Algae and Water Supplies:  

In the summer months the phytoplankton in ponds, lakes and reservoirs may become so abundant as to be extremely conspicuous. The water becomes cloudy and may assume a yellowish or greenish tinge. A floating mat of scum may develop.

viii. The fibres obtained from the leaves of Cycas and Macrozamia are used for stuffing pillows and making mattresses.

5. Source of oils:

i. Oils extracted from seeds of C. revoluta, Macrozamia reidlei, Pinus cembra and Cephalotaxus drupacea are used as edible oils.

ii. Red cedar wood oil extracted from the heart wood of Juniperus virginiana is used for cleaning microscopic preparations and for oil immersion lenses.

iii. Oils obtained from Cedrus deodara, Ciyptomeria japonica and Cupressus serm-perivirens are used in preparations of perfumes.

Hope so it helps you.....

Answer 2

Answer:

Importance of Algae

• Algae fixes Carbon dioxide with the help of photosynthesis

• It increases the level of dissolved oxygen in their immediate environment

• They produce rich compounds that serve as food for aquatic animals.

• Marine algae are used as food ex: Laminaria and Sargassum

• Certain algae are used as hydrocolloids

• Agar is used in growing microorganisms and in preparation of jellies.

• Chlorella is used as food by space travellers.

Importance of Gymnosperms

• Gymnosperms plants are used as ornamentals. Some are features in formal gardens – used for bonsai

• Their fibers are used in the preparation of paper pulp.

• Turpentine and resins are obtained from confers resin

• Useful oils are extracted from gymnosperms like junipers, pines, hemlock, fir, spruces, and arborvitae.

• Gymnosperm seeds are used as food products like bakery items.

• Occassionaly used to create silk and other textiles