The green algal genus Ulva is widely distributed around all continents. Plants with both distromatic or monostromatic thalli now form a single taxon based on ITS rDNA and rbcL gene sequencing. Ulva is known to occupy several ecological niches including freshwater and marine (intertidal and subtidal) habitats, attributed to its tolerance to key determinants such as light, temperature, and salinity. The genus is perceived as model system to study life cycle, morphogenesis and development from simple to complex multicellularity. The life cycle is isomorphic and biphasic type, knowledge of which is important in developing viable cultivation techniques. The culture of Ulva is by photo-bioreactor, land-based, and open-sea farming producing about 1500 t dry annum⁻¹ biomass. The understanding of scientific basis for eutrophication-driven green tide events is of paramount importance for coastal ecosystem management. Studies related to cross-kingdom cross-talk between Ulva and surrounding microbes have been recently undertaken through high-throughput techniques to understand their role in growth, development, and morphogenesis. Several regional species are rich in vital nutrients and thus qualify in the functional food sector, and recent research is poised to develop a bio-refinery model for complete utilization of feedstock. Ulva spp. are also used as a feed source in aquaculture and for environmental bioremediation.

绿藻属Ulva广泛分布于所有大洲。基于ITS rDNA和rbc L基因测序，具有分布性或单基质拟南芥的植物现在形成一个单一分类群。众所周知，Ulva占据了多个生态位，包括淡水和海洋（潮间带和潮间带）栖息地，这归因于它对光，温度和盐度等关键决定因素的耐受性。该属被认为是研究生命周期，形态发生和从简单到复杂的多细胞发展的模型系统。生命周期是同构和双相类型，其知识对于开发可行的栽培技术很重要。乌尔瓦文化是通过光生物反应器，陆上和露天养殖产生的，每年干燥的生物量约为1500吨^-1。对富营养化驱动的绿色潮汐事件的科学依据的理解对于沿海生态系统管理至关重要。最近，通过高通量技术进行了有关Ulva与周围微生物之间的交叉王国串扰的研究，以了解它们在生长，发育和形态发生中的作用。几个区域物种富含重要的营养，因此可以进入功能性食品部门，最近的研究准备开发一种生物精炼模型，以完全利用原料。乌尔瓦种 也用作水产养殖的饲料来源和环境生物修复。