Question

What is the function of holdfast in algae?

Answer 1

Algae is an aquatic plant which is non-flowering and holdfast is a root like structure which are found in the aquatic sessile organisms and the function of holdfast is based on its name.

Complete answer:
Algae is a simple and non-flowering aquatic plant which is a group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. Holdfast is a part of kelp which looks like roots in appearance and the location is also the same as roots. As the name indicates, it holds the aquatic organisms fast to the sea floor or to the surface of substrate. In other words, it anchors the aquatic organisms. These are found in different shapes and forms which completely depends on the species and the substrate.

Since the algae is aquatic plant and it's non-flowering too so the holdfast functions to support the algae or to anchor the algae to the floor of the sea because of its root like appearance and the location is also same as roots therefore it holds the algae in proper way.

Thus, the function of holdfast in algae is to hold fast the algae to the sea surface or in other words you can say it anchors/supports the algae to the surface of substrate.

Additional information:
The projections called haptera are usually seen in holdfasts of organisms that live in muddy substrates and similar structures but the name is also found in lichens. The holdfasts are bulb-like and very flexible in the organisms that live in sandy substrate which permits the organism to pull the entire body into the substrate when the holdfast is contracted. Flattened holdfasts are seen in the organisms that live on smooth surfaces.

Note: There are many types of algae, brown algae is present at the base of the alga. Here holdfast plays the role to anchor the alga so that it stays in place on the substrate where it grows, this further helps to prevent the algae from being carried away. Hence the primary role of holdfast is to anchor the algae to the substrate.