What is the source of Agar Agar?

✅ Explanation: Agar agar is a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed (red algae), primarily from species like Gelidium and Gracilaria. It is composed of polysaccharides (agarose and agaropectin) and is widely used as a solidifying agent in microbiological media, food products, and various other applications.
Key Points
-Gelidium is a source of Agar.
-Agar, also called agar-agar is a gelatin-like product made primarily from the red algae Gelidium and Gracilaria.
-It is a galactose-based heterogenous polysaccharide derived from red algae.
-A typical agar composition is 70% agarose and 30% agaropectin.
-It is used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Asia.
-It is also used as a solid substrate to contain culture media for microbiological work.
-Gelidium is a genus of thalloid red algae.
-Nowadays, Gracilaria and Gelidium are the principal seaweeds for commercially producing agar.
-Gelidium are widely distributed globally, specifically in tropical to temperate regions.
Additional Information
-Ulva or sea lettuce.
-It is a type of flat green algae of the family Ulvaceae.
-Ulva blooms occur mainly in shallow waters and the decomposition of this alga can produce dangerous vapors.
-It is considered one of the most usable seaweeds, with applications that include its use in food, agriculture, pharmacology and medicine.
-Ectocarpus is a genus of filamentous brown alga.
-It serves as a model organism for the study of genomics of multicellular organisms.
-Volvox is a polyphyletic genus of chlorophyte green algae.
-It is widely used by researchers as a genetic and developmental model to further understand cellular differentiation.