2022 Brown Algae

Multicellular algae
seaweeds,
also called macrophytes,
macroalgae,
macrobenthic algae
Phaephyta Brown Algae
Brown algae are eukaryotic multicellular (microscopic
filaments up to – several meters - 100 m hight
1500 2000 species
majority are marine algae of colder seas
great abundance on temperate and polar rocky coasts
form kelp beds or forest, food and shelter for marine
organisms, hight up to 100 m
Can grow at 50-100 cm per day
From dark brown to olive green,
from pale beige to yellow brown
chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c, carotene,
abundant xanthophyll called fucoxanthin,
phycocolloid algin and
reserve compound laminarin (carbohydrate) and lipid
kelp
Kelp forest
Seaweeds and marine embriophytes
Structure
Eukaryotic multicellular
body consists of a
branched filamentous structure (Ectocarpus),
parenchymatous structure (Sargassum, Laminaria, Fucus,
Macrocystis)
Include the largest algae,

Macrocystis (40-100 m)
Nereocystis (20-30 m) The giant brown algae are called
kelps.
The plant body is often differentiated into
holdfast, stipe and lamina (frond), lamina of kelp is annual!
often possess air vesicles or bladders for providing buoyancy
Cell wall contains
cellulose,
nonglucan saccharides
phycocolloids
Phycocolloids of brown algae are

non-sulphated monosaccharide’s.
The common ones are alginic acid, fucoidin, fucin
Phycocolloids protect the algae from

desiccation during low-tide,
freezing under low temperature and
injury when beaten against rocks
Sienelės sudarytos iš alginatų (fikokoloidų), celiuliozės
atsarginės medžiagos laminarinas (angliavandenis) ir lipidai
The molecule laminarin (also known as laminaran) is a
storage glucan (a polysaccharide of glucose) found in brown
algae. It is used as a carbohydrate food reserve
It is created by photosynthesis and is made up of β(1→3)-
glucan with β(1→6)-branches.
It is a linear polysaccharide, with a β(1→3):β(1→6) ratio of
3:1.
Structure
Chloroplasts possess 3-thylakoids
Cells possess refractile vesicles called fucosan vesicles.

The vesicles contain a phenolic chemical named fucosan.
Fucosan is colourless inside water but becomes brown or
black on exposure to air.
Conducting tubes or trumpet hyphae in larger brown algae,

the tubes possess sieve septa, in conduction of materials
The rate is 38-78 cm/hr.
It has been suggested that the annual production of algae
laminarin amounts to 12 ± 8 gigatons, i.e., about three
times the annual atmospheric CO2 increase by fossil fuel
burning, that its concentration is driven by light
variability and that it contributes substantially to the
carbon export from surface waters, as it may account for
up to half of organic carbon in sinking diatom-containing
particles
Asexual reproduction
both motile (zoospores); heterokont flagellation with one
smaller whip other larger of tinsel type
non-motile spores (neutral spores, tetra spores, mono-
spores).
Sexual reproduction
isogamy, anisogamy
oogamy
Alternation of generations
Isomorphic alternation of generations Ectocarpus, Dictyota,
both the haploid and diploid generations are similar in structure
Heteromorphic alteration, In many the diploid generation or
phase is dominant.
Fucus species
in the upper, mid, and lower intertidal in the colder
waters of the northern Atlantic and northern Pacific.
The genus is absent from the southern hemisphere
Fucus vesiculosus
Fucus spiralis
Fucus guiryi
Fucus Fucus is northern-hemisphere genus of macroscopic
marine seaweeds called wracks, perennial
Fucus vesiculosus is the best-known species, have a number
of useful compounds.
The plants consist of a small stipe and a holdfast and, and
lamina (frond) dichotomously-branched flattened thallus
with a thickened area, a midrib. A pair of pneumocysts/ air
bladders help to keep the plant afloat when submerged
no conducting tissue in Fucus:

the plants are always diploid Gamete production takes place
in crypt-like structures called conceptacles
(do not confuse Embriophyte receptacles)
Monoecious species may have both sexes in one conceptacle
diecious may have them in separate conceptacles.
The male reproductive structures are called antheridiophores
which are branched, tree-like structures with antheridia \on thei
branches; biflagellate male gametes.
The female reproductive structures,
are bore on short stalks and produce 8 eggs.
Gametes are usually released into the water on the rising tide.
Exposure to air causes dessication and the gametes are
squeezed onto the surface of the receptacle, and are then
washed off and mixed by the inoming tide.
The female egg liberates a volatile hydrocarbon,
fucoserraten which attracts the male antherozoids;
The zygotic cell settles down and germinates to form a new
diploid thallus.
Fucus is a sporophyte that undergoes meiosis
the male gametangia as 'microsporangia'
the female gametangia as 'megasporangia‘
Fodder, manure and algin

An example is Fucus
Fucus spiralis
rockweeds or wrack
Laminaria
It is a wide spread large-sized 1-3 metres

called devil’s apron (prijuostė)
Laminaria is a source of
food
manure (trąša)
algin and iodine
Dictyota
It is a ribbon in shallow waters

The frond bears hair and unilocular sporangia (haploid tetra
spores)
gametophytic thallus is similar in morphology to sporophytic

Sex organs are in clusters or sori
Sargassum
popularly called gulf weed
Both free floating and attached forms
Main axis bears long laterals on which are borne short
laterals or leaves.
Pneumocysts in the axils of leaves
Used both as fodder and manure
Sarganine is an antibacterial and antifungal extract
Floating forms North Atlantic ocean Sargasso sea, are
menace to shipping
5. Ectocarpus
It is a filamentous marine brown alga which has both upright
and prostrate regions. Such a growth is called heterotrichous.
Upright branches show evection (pushing of parent branch) to
give an appearance of dichotomy. Fixation to solid substratum
occurs through prostate portion and rhizoids.
Reproduction occurs by fragmentation. The plants can also
multiply asexually through the formation of diploid
biflagellate zoospores in plurilocular (= neutral) sporangia.
The sporophytic plant body also bears unilocular sporangia in
which sporic meiosis occurs and haploid biflagellate
meiozoospores are formed. The latter germinate to produce
gametophytic thalli. The gametophytes liberate biflagellate
gametes from their plurilocular gametangia. The gametes fuse
to form diploid zygote that germinates to produce diploid
plant.
Brown algae
Phaeophyta
1. Fucus vesiculosus
pūslėtasis guveinis
2. Fucus serratus
3. Fucus distichus
Phaeophyta
1. Chorda filum
siūlinis stygadumblis
2. Chorda tomentosa
3. Laminaria saccharina
4. Laminaria digitata
5. Alaria pylaii
Common Algae (Limu) Eaten in Hawaii
Dictyopteris Sargassum
(Limu lipoa) (Limu kala)
Economic Importance
Food
as food in some countries,
Laminaria, Alaria, Macrocystis, Sargassum.
as fodder.
Fouling of Ships (apnašai)
Some brown algae get attached to hulls of ships,
Ectocarpus. Others floating in masses (e.g., Sargassum)
have a nuisance (šiukšlina) value for ships.
Iodine Potash K2CO3
Fucus and Laminaria are rich source of iodine. Potash is
abundant in Macrocystis and Nereocystis.
Aquarium
Aquarium
Rud akvariume
Algin/Alginate & Potash
Medicines
Sodium laminarin sulphate is blood anticoagulant
Laminaria and Ascophyllum have antibiotic properties,
Durvillea has worm expelling or vermifuge properties
Alginic Acid
phycocolloid commercially from Laminaria, Macrocystis,
Nereocystis, Fucus, Sargassum
in obtaining emulsions (ice-creams, ointments,
toothpastes, cosmetics, creams, shampoos);
sizing textiles, flame proof plastics, security glass,
formation of pills and surgical threads

2022 Brown Algae

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2022 Brown Algae

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Multicellular algae

Include the largest algae,

Phycocolloids of brown algae are

Phycocolloids protect the algae from

Chloroplasts possess 3-thylakoids

Cells possess refractile vesicles called fucosan vesicles.

Conducting tubes or trumpet hyphae in larger brown algae,

no conducting tissue in Fucus:

Fodder, manure and algin

It is a wide spread large-sized 1-3 metres

It is a ribbon in shallow waters

gametophytic thallus is similar in morphology to sporophytic

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