Abstract
This study reports the morphological, anatomical and agar content difference among various species of Gracilaria. The cortex was found 1-2 layered in G. edulis and G. eucheumatoides whereas 5-6 layered in G. foliifera and G. crassa. The medulla was 6-8 layered in G. edulis, 10-11 layered in G. foliifera, 14-15 layered in G. eucheumatoides and 8-10 layered in G. crassa. Similarly, distinct variations were observed in the structure of cystocarp of these taxa. The outer pericarp was 6-8 layered in G. verrucosa (attached type), 8-9 in Graciriopsis megaspora, 12-13 layered cells in G. edulis, 9-11 layered in G. foliifera, 12-15 layered in G. eucheumatoides and 11-14 layered in G. crassa. The tubular nutritive filaments were radiating type in G. edulis whereas these were penetrating and radiating type in G. foliifera. In G. crassa, the same was produced from a small swollen short base and in G. verrucosa (attached type) it was long. Further, in G. eucheumatoides and Gracilariopsis megaspore, nutritive filaments were not observed. Among various species of Gracilariales studied in this work, agar from Gracilaria verrucosa (floating type or sterile type) showed highest yield with gel strength 260 gm/cm2 and viscosity 10 milipass. Based on the agar quality,
Highlights
Agar is a complex polysaccharide, mainly extracted from some red seaweeds like Gracilaria spp., Gracilariopsis spp., Gelidium spp., Gelidiella spp., Pterocladia spp. etc
At Chilika Lake, two different morphotypes of Gracilaria verrucosa are found growing in two distinct habitats
Plants collected from Mandapam vicinity and Andaman Islands i.e. Gracilaria edulis, G. foliifera, G. crassa, G. corticata and G. eucheumatoides were found growing in the intertidal zones of this coast
Summary
Agar is a complex polysaccharide, mainly extracted from some red seaweeds like Gracilaria spp., Gracilariopsis spp., Gelidium spp., Gelidiella spp., Pterocladia spp. etc. Out of these few genera, Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis known as Gracilarioids contribute to nearly 53% of the world’s total agar production [1,2]. Gracilaria has been used as food for shellfish (abalone) [11]. Based on this demand of the seaweed, a study on the cultivation of Gracilaria edulis has been made recently [12]. Information on Indian Gracilaroids, especially the species growing in Chilika lake, is merged [16]
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