Question

Write note on the economic importance of algae and gymnosperms

Answer 1

Write a note on economic importance of algae and gymnosperms.

Answer

Economic importance of algae
Algae have diverse economic uses. They perform half of the total carbon dioxide-fixation on earth by photosynthesis, acting as the primary producers in aquatic habitats.
(a) Food source: Many species of marine algae such as Porphyra, Sargassum, and Laminaria are edible. Chlorella and Spirulinaare rich in proteins. Thus, they are used as food supplements.
(b) Commercial importance: Agar is used in the preparation of jellies and ice-cream. It is obtained from Gelidium andGracilaria. Carrageenin is used as an emulsifier in chocolates, paints, and toothpastes. It is obtained from the red algae.

(c) Medicines: Many red algae such as Corallina are used in treating worm infections.


Economic importance of gymnosperms
(a) Construction purposes: Many conifers such as pine, cedar, etc., are sources of the soft wood used in construction and packing.
(b) Medicinal uses: An anticancer drug Taxol is obtained from Taxus. Many species of Ephedra produce ephedrine, which can be used in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis.
(c) Food source: The seeds of Pinus gerardiana (known as chilgoza) are edible.
(d) Source of resins: Resins are used commercially for manufacturing sealing waxes and water-proof paints. A type of resin known as turpentine is obtained from various species of Pinus.

Answer 2

⭕The economic importance of Algae:

✔️ Photosynthesis:
at least a half of the total carbon dioxide fixation on Earth is carried out by Algae through photosynthesis.
Being photosynthetic they increase the level of dissolved oxygen in the immediate environment.
it is essential for respiration of aquatic life.

✔️Primary producers:
Algae are primary producers of energy rich compounds.
This form the basic of food cycles of all aquatic animals.
Food supplements:
many species of porphyra, laminaria and sargassum are among the 70 species of marine algae used as food.
certain unicellular algae like chlorella and spirulina are rich in proteins and are used as food supplements even by space travellers.

✔️Hydrocolloids:
hydrocolloids are water holding substances. Certain brown and red algae produce large amounts of hydrocolloids which are used commercially.
Algin and carrageen are hydrocolloids obtained from brown and red algae, respectively.
Agar is one of the commercial products obtained from gelidium and gracilaria and are used to grow microbes and in preparation of ice creams and jellies.

✔️Iodine:
Fucus and laminaria are rich sources of iodine.


⭕The economic Importance of Gymnosperms:

✔️Edible seeds:
seeds of pinus called chilgoza are edible.
They are eaten after roasting.

✔️Timber:
Gymnosperms possess softwood.
It is used in preparation of light furniture, plywood, packing cases, matchsticks, railway sleepers, etc.

✔️Paper:
A number of Gymnosperms woods are used in the manufacture of paper.

✔️Fibre boards:
Needle of pinus and other conifers are used in making fibre boards that are used in making packing cases.

✔️Ephedrine:
Drug ephedrine is obtained Ephedra, a gymnosperm.
The drug is used in curing respiratory ailments including asthma.

✔️Taxol:
An anticancerous drug, called taxol, is obtained from the bark of Texus.

⭕The economic importance of Angiosperms:

✔️Food:
Flowering plants are the major sources of food.
They produce cereals such as wheat, rice, etc. , vegetables such as potato, tomato, carrot etc and fruits such as apple, mango.

✔️Edible oils:
Flowering plants are the main source of edible oils used for cooking.
These are obtained from groundnut, mustard, sunflower, coconut etc.

✔️Spices:
common spices are obtained from various parts of flowering plants such as coriander, cloves, black paper, etc.

✔️Beverages:
coffee and cocoa are the common beverages obtained from the flowering plants.

✔️Medicines:
Some of the important medicinal plants are quinine, belladonna, Ashwagandha, etc.

✔️Timber:
many angiosperms particularly dicot yield valuable hardwood which is used as Timber e.g., Teak, Oak, Sheesham, Sandalwood, etc.

✔️Fibres:
Fibres of different qualities are obtained from various species of flowering plants e.g., Textile fibres are obtained from cotton.

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