Abstract
Eight carrageenophytes, representing seven genera and three families of Gigartinales (Florideophyceae), were studied for 15 months. The reproductive status, dry weight, and carrageenan content have been followed by a monthly random sampling. The highest carrageenan yields were found in Chondracanthus acicularis (61.1%), Gigartina pistillata (59.7%), and Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus (58.0%). Species of Cystocloniaceae family produces predominantly iota-carrageenans; Gigartinaceae family produces hybrid kappa-iota carrageenans (gametophytic plants) and lambda-family carrageenans (sporophytic plants); Phyllophoraceae family produces kappa-iota-hybrid carrageenans. Quadrate destructive sampling method was used to determine the biomass and line transect. Quadrate nondestructive sampling method, applied along a perpendicular transect to the shoreline, was used to calculate the carrageenophytes cover in two periods: autumn/winter and spring/summer. The highest cover and biomass were found in Chondrus crispus (3.75%–570 g/m2), Chondracanthus acicularis (3.45%–99 g/m2), Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus (2.45%–207.5 g/m2), and Mastocarpus stellatus (2.02%–520 g/m2).
Highlights
Carrageenans are industrially important hydrocolloids that are found in various red seaweeds (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) [1, 2]
Most of the seaweeds present high carrageenan contents in summer (C. crispus, C. teedei var. lusitanicus, G. pistillata, C. jubata, and G. crenulatus); the maximum carrageenan content in C. acicularis and A. devoniensis is found in autumn/winter
In C. crispus, the carrageenan content was low in autumn and winter, a small increase occurred in early spring (April), and the largest carrageenan content was recorded in samples collected in summer (July)
Summary
Carrageenans are industrially important hydrocolloids that are found in various red seaweeds (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) [1, 2]. Carrageenans are a family of water soluble, linear, and sulfated galactans. They are composed of alternating 3-linked β-d-galactopyranose (G-units) and 4-linked α-d-galactopyranose (D-units) or 4-linked 3,6-anhydroα-d-galactopyranose (DA-units), forming the disaccharide repeating unit of carrageenans. Kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenans are found in the gametophytic life phases of several species in the families of Gigartinaceae and Phyllophoraceae [7,8,9]. Iota- and kappa-carrageenan are formed enzymatically from the precursor carrageenans by a sulfohydrolase [11, 12] In vitro, these precursor residues are converted to the corresponding gelling carrageenan on treatment with alkali. The tetrasporic life phase of Gigartinaceae contains carrageenans of the lambda family. Carrageenan serves as a gelling (kappa-family carrageenans), stabilizing, and viscosity-building agent (lambda-family carrageenans) in food products, pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics, and oil well drilling fluid [2, 15]
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