Question

Which of the following is the correct match of algal class with its characteristic reserve food?
A. Chlorophyceae – Starch
B. Phaeophyceae – Mannitol, laminarin
C. Rhodophyceae – Floridean Starch
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Algae is a photosynthetic eukaryotic organism. Algae are a diverse group of aquatic plants. For example – blue green algae, Anabaena, Nostoc , etc.

Complete Answer:
Algae have chlorophyll which helps in the photosynthesis process. Photosynthesis is a process in which green plants and algae make their own food with the help of carbon dioxide, water , Sunlight and Chlorophyll. One can find algae on the surface of any water body such as lakes, ponds, etc. They can exist freely as well as in colonies.

There are many classes of algae-
(I) Class – Chlorophyceae
- The Chlorophyceae is the class of green algae.
- They are usually green due to the presence of pigments like Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b in them.
- The chloroplast of these algae is discoid, cup shaped, reticulate, or spiral. Green algae have a rigid cell wall which is made up of an inner level made up of cellulose and an outer layer made up of pectose.
- The members of this class have one or more storage bodies called Pyrenoids that store Starch. So, we can say the reserve food material in the Chlorophyceae is Starch.
Example – Chlamydomonas, Volvox, etc.

(II) Class – Phaeophyceae:
- Phaeophyceae is the class of Brown algae.
- It is a large group of multicellular algae.
- Most of the brown algae live in the marine environment.
- They contain the pigments fucoxanthin and carotenoids, etc.
- The reserve food material in Brown algae is Laminarian or Mannitol.
Example - Ectocarpus, Cutleria, etc.

(III) Class – Rhodophyceae:
- Rhodophyceae is the class of red algae.
- They contain the red pigment called r-phycoerythrin.
- This pigment completely mask the effect of chlorophyll a and give red colour to this algae
- The reserve food material in the members of Rhodophyceae is Floridean Starch.
Example – Asterocystis, Lamanea, etc.

Therefore, it has been clear from the above discussion that all the given options are right as Chlorophyceae has the Starch as reserve food material, Phaeophyceae has mannitol and laminarin as a food material and Rhodophyceae have the Floridean starch as the reserve food material.

So, option D is the right answer for this question.

Note: The algae is too useful for human beings. The algae can produce Biofuel which is eco-friendly and can help in reducing pollution to some extent. It can also be used as an energy source or food supplement.