Algal polysaccharides, constituents

Cellulose is a major constituent in vascular plants and is generally absent in algal and microbial tissue. Cellulose is fibrous, water insoluble, and usually present in protective cell walls of plants, such as stalks, stems, and all the woody portion of the plant. Cellulose constitutes 45-90% of woody tissue, and 15-30% of herbaceous plant tissue. Cellulose consists of a linear, unbranched polysaccharide of 10,000 or more glucose units connected by P(l, 4) linkages (Figure 5.12). 

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