An agarophyte is a seaweed, usually a red alga, that produces the hydrocolloid agar in its cell walls.[1] This agar can be harvested commercially for use in biological experiments and culturing. In some countries (especially in the developing world), the harvesting of agarophytes, either as natural stocks or a cultivated crop, is of considerable economic importance. Notable genera of commercially exploited agarophytes include Gracilaria and Gelidium (such as Gelidium amansii and Gelidium corneum).[2]

Gelidium amansii

References

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  1. ^ Williams, Peter W.; Phillips, Glyn O. (2000). Handbook of hydrocolloids. Cambridge: Woodhead. ISBN 1-85573-501-6.
  2. ^ Seo, Yung-Bum; Lee, Youn-Woo; Lee, Chun-Han; You, Hack-Chul (April 2010). "Red algae and their use in papermaking". Bioresource Technology. 101 (7): 2549–53. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2009.11.088. PMID 20022488.