Agar is one of the important components in the cell wall of red algae. The biodegradation of agar affects marine ecological processes, such as nutrient recycling, succession of large seaweed communities, heavy metal pollution, and carbon sequestration. In addition, the degradation products of agar demonstrate great application potential in aquaculture, agriculture, medicine, health products, bioenergy, etc. Therefore, the biodegradation of agar and its ecological and application values have become research hotspots in recent years. This article reviews the research progress in the significance of agar degradation, microbial agarases, and agar metabolic pathways, providing theoretical support for the research on the ecological effects and comprehensive utilization of the agar from red algae.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |