Effects of depth and initial fragment weights of Gracilaria gracilis on the growth, agar yield, quality, and biochemical composition

Abstract

Gracilaria gracilis farming was conducted in the Bizerte lagoon (North of Tunisia) at two depths (0.5 and 2.5 m) using various initial fragment weights (5, 20, and 40 g) in order to investigate the alga growth, agar yield, and quality. IR spectra of agar were performed in comparison to the commercial one. Moreover, the proximate biochemical composition of seaweeds was investigated. The results showed that the highest daily growth rate and agar yield were recorded at 0.5 m, using 5 g as initial fragment weight (5.98 ± 1.98% day−1, 14.87 ± 1.91% dw, respectively). Maximum gel strength was 356.67 ± 15.25 g cm−2 at 2.5 m using an initial weight of 20 g. Gelling and melting temperatures varied from 34.33 ± 0.57 to 35.50 ± 0.57 °C and from 77.00 ± 1.00 to 85.00 ± 0.50 °C, respectively. IR analysis revealed that some spectra were similar, while others were different. The highest dry matter (22.68 ± 1.77%) and ash content (35.25 ± 0.02% of dw) were recorded at 2.5 m, using initial weights of 20 and 5 g, respectively. The maximum carbohydrate and the crude protein contents were obtained at 0.5 m, using 5 g as initial weight (9.52 ± 0.36 and 5.83 ± 0.7% dw, respectively). The highest R-phycoerythrin content was recorded at 0.5 m (0.050 ± 0.007 mg g−1 dw), while the maximum of total lipid content was recorded at 2.5 m with initial weight of 5 g (3.58 ± 0.63% dw). Our findings indicated that growth and biochemical composition of G. gracilis depend on the depth and initial fragment weights.