ACHMAD RF

The Red Algae are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae, and also one of the largest, with about 5,000–6,000 species of mostly multicellular, marine algae, including many notable seaweeds. Other references indicate 10,000 species.

CHARACTHERISTIC of RED ALGAE

1. Eukaryotic cells without flagella and centrioles
2. Using floridean starch as food reserve
3. Having cell walls contained cellulose and latex
4. Have phycobiliproteins as accessory pigments (giving them their red color)
5. Have chloroplasts lacking external endoplasmic reticulum and containing unstacked thylakoids
6. Most red algae are also multicellular, macroscopic, marine, and have sexual reproduction

Example Organisms and Functions of Red Algae(Rhodophyta)
1. Chondrus crispus

Functions : Produce the karagen. It’s use as bahan penyamak kulit, obat pencuci rambut, and bahan pembuat krem.

2. Euchema spinosum

Functions : Produce gelatin which called agar-agar. It’s use as untuk pengental dalam banyak makanan, perekat tekstil, sebagai obat pencahar (laksatif), atau sebagai makanan penutup

3. Atractophora hypnoides
4. Gelidiella calcicola
5. Palmaria palmata

Reproduction of Red Algae

Red Algae can to reproduce asexually and sexually.
• Breeding of red algae vegetative place with the formation of haploid spores produced by a sporangium or talus diploid algae. These spores then grow into a male or female algae are haploid cells.

• Breeding generative Oogamy red algae, fertilization female sex cell (ovum) by the male sex Cells (spermatium). Male breeding tool called spermatogonia that produce spermatium not berflagel. While the female genitals is called karpogonium, which produces ova. Results fertilization spermatium cell is an ovum by a diploid zygote. Furthermore, the zygote that will grow into a new algae that produces aplanospora with meiotic division. Haploid spores grow into gamete-producing algae. So the red algae occur in the descendants of rotation sporofit and gametophyte.