Natural Seaweed Research Articles

Twenty Years of Commercial Farming of Kappaphycus alvarezii in India: A Look Back at Learnings and the Way Forward

ABSTRACTKappaphycus alvarezii continues to be driving force in marine agronomy. Along with Euchema spp. it contributes to 11.6 million tonnes feedstock globally. Among 30 countries where it was introduced, only, Tanzania and India could reach commercial‐scale farming. In India the feedstock production reached 8088 t (dry) worth ~USD 2,390,184 (between 2005 and 2020). The commercial farming has provided diversification of livelihood to the fishermen involved in un‐organized sector of natural seaweed gathering. At the cusp of its strategic expansion this review based on 20 years of research and developmental efforts provided a broad‐brushstroke picture of information on: (i) new innovations; novel, high‐value products; (ii) use as a biological source of commercially relevant genes to combat abiotic stress tolerance in crops; (iii) evolution in farming techniques and models; (iv) conscious efforts in skill‐set development; (v) policy guidelines to support industry; (vi) environmental concerns, disease outbreak, and biosecurity framework; (vii) sustainable seed‐supply management; (viii) cost–benefit analysis through perspective of profitability assessment parameters; and (ix) role of private sector in taking this initiative ahead. K. alvarezii farming in India seems to be successful example of achieving “triple bottom line” objectives of balanced economic, social and environmental out‐come as proposed by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and World Bank (WB).

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles derived from algae and their larvicidal properties to control Aedes aegypti.

Mosquito vectors such as Aedes spp. are responsible for the transmission of arboviruses that have a major impact on public health. Therefore, it is necessary to search for ways to control these insects, avoiding the use of conventional chemical insecticides that are proven to be toxic to nature. In the last years, there has been growing evidence for the potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to be ecologically benign alternatives to the commercially available chemical insecticides against vector-borne diseases. Natural seaweed extracts contain metabolites such as polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids. These compounds act as reducing agents and stabilizers to synthesize biogenic AgNPs. The green synthesis of AgNPs has advantages over other methods, such as low cost and sustainable biosynthesis. In the perspective of using AgNPs in the development of novel insecticides for vector control, this review deals with the eco-friendly synthesis of AgNPs through seaweed extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. In addition, assessment of toxicity of these nanomaterials in non-target species is discussed.

Novel Therapeutic Approach for Obesity: Seaweeds as an Alternative Medicine with the Latest Conventional Therapy.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide. Common comorbidities related to obesity, significantly polygenic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and heart conditions affect social and monetary systems. Over the past decade, research in drug discovery and development has opened new paths for alternative and conventional medicine. With a deeper comprehension of its underlying mechanisms, obesity is now recognized more as a chronic condition rather than merely a result of lifestyle choices. Nonetheless, addressing it solely through lifestyle changes is challenging due to the intricate nature of energy regulation dysfunction. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved six medications for the management of overweight and obesity. Seaweed are plants and algae that grow in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Studies have shown that seaweed has therapeutic potential in the management of body weight and obesity. Seaweed compounds such as carotenoids, xanthophyll, astaxanthin, fucoidans, and fucoxanthin have been demonstrated as potential bioactive components in the treatment of obesity. The abundance of natural seaweed bioactive compounds has been explored for their therapeutic potential for treating obesity worldwide. Keeping this view, this review covered the latest developments in the discovery of varied anti-obese seaweed and its bioactive components for the management of obesity.

A eutectic mixture catalyzed straight forward production of functional carbon from Sargassum tenerrimum for energy storage application

Here, we present a sustainable and scalable approach for synthesizing functionalized nanomaterials directly from an abundant natural seaweed resource coupled with a green eutectic mixture. The study utilized crushed seaweed granules obtained from fresh brown seaweed Sargassum tenerrimum (ST) and a eutectic mixture generated through the complexation of urea and a metal salt, which act as both solvent and catalyst to facilitate the straightforward production of metal oxide functionalized nanomaterials. Subjecting seaweed granules and the eutectic mixture to pyrolysis at temperatures between 700 °C and 900 °C in a nitrogen (N2) atmosphere resulted in the formation of ST-derived carbon (STC) functionalized with β-MnO2. The nanoneedles thus synthesized were examined for their electrochemical properties in both three-electrode and two-electrode configurations, employing 6 M KOH and 1 M Na2SO4 as electrolytes. Within the three-electrode framework, β-MnO2 functionalized STC at 800 °C (MSTC-8) displayed a remarkable specific capacitance, of 685.1 F g−1 in alkaline electrolyte and 308.3 F g−1 in neutral electrolyte at 0.1 A g−1, demonstrating a superior performance compared to MSTC-7 and MSTC-9. Additionally, two-electrode experiments and evaluations of cyclic stability were performed on MSTC-7, MSTC-8, and MSTC-9 symmetric supercapacitors. The fabricated symmetric supercapacitor in Na2SO4 with the operational voltage window up to 1.7 V, achieved a maximum energy density of 45.5 Wh/kg and a power density of 172.66 W kg−1. Moreover, the current investigation highlights the enduring performance of MSTC-8//MSTC-8 symmetric supercapacitor, with a capacitance retention of 95 % and 80 % over 20,000 cycles in KOH and Na2SO4 electrolytes respectively.

Biodegradable and flexible ι-carrageenan based RRAM with ultralow power consumption

Transient memories, which can physically disappear without leaving traceable remains over a period of normal operation, are attracting increasing attention for potential applications in the fields of data security and green electronics. Resistive random access memory (RRAM) is a promising candidate for next-generation memory. In this context, biocompatible ι-carrageenan (ι-car), extracted from natural seaweed, is introduced for the fabrication of RRAM devices (Ag/ι-car/Pt). Taking advantage of the complexation processes between the functional groups (C–O–C, C–O–H, et al.) and Ag metal ions, a lower migration barrier of Ag ions and a high-speed switching (22.2 ns for SET operation/26 ns for RESET operation) were achieved, resulting in an ultralow power consumption of 56 fJ. And the prepared Ag/ι-car/Pt RRAM devices also revealed the capacities of multilevel storage and flexibility. In addition, thanks to the hydrophilic groups of ι-car molecule, the RRAM devices can be rapidly dissolved in deionized (DI) water within 13 minutes, showing excellent transient characteristics. This work demonstrates that ι-car based RRAM devices have great potential for applications in secure storage applications, flexible electronics and transient electronics.

Bioinspired Artificial Muscles Based on Sodium Alginate-Wrapped Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Molybdenum Disulfide Composite Electrode Membrane.

Using a naturally extracted polymer sodium alginate extracted from natural seaweed as the primary raw material, we have successfully developed an electroactive actuator known as biomimetic artificial muscle (BMAM). In comparison to conventional synthetic materials, this BMAM aligns more coherently with the prevailing principles of environmentally friendly development. During the preparation of the BMAM electrode membrane, we employed ultrasonic oscillation to adsorb varying quantities of MoS2 onto a reticulated structure formed by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), thus enhancing the mechanical and electrochemical performance of the BMAM. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful encapsulation of MoS2 by the MWCNTs network in the composite. To measure the output force of the BMAM fabricated with different masses of MoS2 doping, we established a self-built experimental platform and conducted tests on the electrode membranes doped with varying quantities of MoS2 using an electrochemical workstation. The results revealed that the BMAM exhibited optimal mechanical performance when doped with 1.5 g of MoS2, with a maximum output force of 7.81 mN, an output force density of 34.36 mN/g, and a response rate of 0.09 mN/s. These performances were improved by 309%, 276%, and 175%, respectively, compared to the samples without MoS2 doping, with a mass-specific capacitance enhancement of 151%.

Bioadsorption – To Clean Match Industry Effluent Toxicity

This study investigates the possibility of applying an adsorption process using seaweed dry powder natural seaweeds the adsorbents were used to treat real match industry effluent. Bioadsorption is an effective low-cost tool for cleaning polluted environment. In the present study the seedlings of Vigna mungo (L) Hepper were treated with various concentrations of match industry effluent and their impact on the growth, biochemical and enzyme characters were studied. After fourteen days treatment with different concentration of match industry effluent (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) the growth parameter such as,shoot and root lengths, leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight were decreased than the control. Biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugar, protein content and nitrate reductase activity also decreased with the increase in the concentration of cobalt chloride. But the content of free amino acid, proline, phenol and leaf nitrate content were increased with the increase in the concentration of cobalt chloride. The activities of enzyme such as catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were found to be increased with the increase in the concentration of match industry effluent. Application of seaweed (Sargassum wightii) in different concentrations (2gm/L, 4gm/L and 6gm/L) on 60% efluent treated plants has shown the stress relieving effect caused by the toxins of match industry effluent. It is good low cost bioadsorbant for match industry effluent pollution.

Growth Control of Metal-Organic Framework Films on Marine Biological Carbon and Their Potential-Dependent Dopamine Sensing.

Ever-evolving advancements in films have fueled many of the developments in the field of electrochemical sensors. For biosensor application platforms, the fabrication of metal-organic framework (MOF) films on microscopically structured substrates is of tremendous importance. However, fabrication of MOF film-based electrodes always exhibits unsatisfactory performance, and the mechanisms of the fabrication and sensing application of the corresponding composites also need to be explored. Here, we report the fabrication of conformal MIL-53 (Fe) films on carbonized natural seaweed with the assistance of an oxide nanomembrane and a potential-dependent electrochemical dopamine (DA) sensor. The geometry and structure of the composite can be conveniently tuned by the experimental parameters, while the sensing performance is significantly influenced by the applied potential. The obtained sensor demonstrates ultrahigh sensitivity, a wide linear range, a low limit of detection, and a good distinction between DA and ascorbic acid at an optimized potential of 0.3 V. The underneath mechanism is investigated in detail with the help of theoretical calculations. This work bridges the natural material and MOF films and is promising for future biosensing applications.

Phylogeography of the economic seaweeds <italic>Chondrus</italic> (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) in the northwest Pacific based on <italic>rbc</italic>L and COI-5P genes

The red algal genus Chondrus have long been used as raw materials for carrageenan and dietary fiber in health foods. Despite the importance of genetic information in safeguarding natural seaweed resources, knowledge of the population genetics of Chondrus in the northwest Pacific is limited. In this study, genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of 45 populations (777 specimens) of Chondrus from Korea, China, and Japan were evaluated based on mitochondrial COI- 5P gene sequences, and phylogenetic relationships were confirmed based on plastid rbcL gene sequences. Molecular analyses assigned the specimens in this study to three Chondrus species: C. nipponicus, C. ocellatus, and C. giganteus; phenotype-based species classification was impossible owing to their high morphological plasticity. We found moderate intraspecific genetic diversity and a shallow phylogeographic structure in both for C. nipponicus and C. ocellatus, and low intraspecific genetic diversity in C. giganteus. Each of the three species exhibited high-level intraspecific gene flow among regions based on the most common haplotypes (CN1 for C. nipponicus, CO1 for C. ocellatus, and CG1 for C. giganteus). Our comprehensive genetic information provides insights into the phylogeographic patterns and intraspecific diversity of the economically important Chondrus species. It also highlights the need to conserve existing natural Chondrus resources through continuous monitoring of genetic diversity and phylogeographic pattern.

Seaweed Beds and Community Structure in the East and South Coast of Korea

This study conducted a community investigation via scuba-diving excursions into the subtidal regions of seven sea areas on the eastern coasts and three sea areas on the southern coasts, from October to December 2017, to determine the characteristics of seaweed communities and the current status of barren ground in natural seaweed beds in Korea. The results showed that species composition and average biomass in the sea area were 5–48 species and an average of 114.42 g/m2 (0.29–273.60 g/m2) in the eastern coasts, where red algae—an annual opportunity species—were dominant, and 21–48 species and an average of 1056.84 g/m2 (53.03–2683.02 g/m2) in the southern coasts, where perennial large brown algae were dominant. Using Orfanidis’ EEI-c model, evaluations of the community states showed they varied significantly depending on the inclusion of melobesidean algae, and this model was determined to be inappropriate for direct application in sea areas with a low coverage of all macroalgae. A comprehensive review of the seaweed community characteristics of seaweed beds, the marine environment, the coverage of melobesidean algae, and the analysis results regarding the density of grazers showed that a decrease in the seaweed community, according to the barren ground phenomenon, was more severe in the eastern than southern coasts. Furthermore, there were also significant differences in seaweed community characteristics according to sea area and barren ground. Therefore, suitable countermeasures corresponding to the characteristics of each sea area are necessary; for example, the creation of growth substrates for the colonization of macroalgae in Deoksin and Saido Is., the transplantation of large brown algae in Gangyang and Daedurado Is., action plans for marine forest monitoring in Geomundo Is., and an improvement in substrates in Yeongjin, Mangsang, Daejin, Chogok, and Geundeok are possible countermeasures.

In Situ Ion–Exchange Synthesis of Fe3O4 Nanosheets with 3D Hierarchically Porous Carbon Frameworks for High‐Performance Energy Storage

Batteries dominate the market of electrochemical energy‐storage (EES) devices but suffer from low solid‐state ion‐diffusion kinetics. Herein, a facile strategy is presented to fabricate 2D Fe3O4 nanosheets with 3D hierarchically porous carbon (HPC) frameworks for high‐rate lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium‐ion batteries (NIBs). These materials are achieved via a simple in situ ion–exchange process followed by a traditional carbonization–activation treatment, which is inspired by the ion intake and anchoring mechanisms of natural seaweeds. The resulting Fe3O4/HPC nanohybrids running at a high rate of 5 A g−1 can deliver high capacities of 418 and 144 mA h g−1 as the anodes of LIBs and NIBs, over 7.3 and 4.3 times those of their counterparts without porous structures. The Fe3O4/HPC also exhibits stable cycle life (≈114% and 93% retention after 1000 cycles at a high current density of 5 A g−1 for LIBs and NIBs, respectively), surpassing the most Fe3O4‐based batteries ever reported. This is attributed to the well‐controlled size of Fe3O4 nanosheets with the robust and interconnected 3D HPC frameworks that facilitate charge transport. Herein, a new strategy is provided to assemble 2D metal oxides onto a unique 3D architecture, generating electrodes for high‐performance EES devices.

Forensic carbon accounting: Assessing the role of seaweeds for carbon sequestration.

Carbon sequestration is defined as the secure storage of carbon-containing molecules for >100 years, and in the context of carbon dioxide removal for climate mitigation, the origin of this CO2 is from the atmosphere. On land, trees globally sequester substantial amounts of carbon in woody biomass, and an analogous role for seaweeds in ocean carbon sequestration has been suggested. The purposeful expansion of natural seaweed beds and aquaculture systems, including into the open ocean (ocean afforestation), has been proposed as a method of increasing carbon sequestration and use in carbon trading and offset schemes. However, to verify whether CO2 fixed by seaweeds through photosynthesis leads to carbon sequestration is extremely complex in the marine environment compared to terrestrial systems, because of the need to jointly consider: the comparatively rapid turnover of seaweed biomass, tracing the fate of carbon via particulate and dissolved organic carbon pathways in dynamic coastal waters, and the key role of atmosphere-ocean CO2 exchange. We propose a Forensic Carbon Accounting approach, in which a thorough analysis of carbon flows between the atmosphere and ocean, and into and out of seaweeds would be undertaken, for assessing the magnitude of CO2 removal and robust attribution of carbon sequestration to seaweeds.

Caracterización de algas recolectadas en la Baixada Santista litoral y sus posibles usos como biosorbentes de cationes de metales pesados

This work aims to characterize biosorbent materials based on seaweed present on the littoral of Baixada Santista (São Paulo state, Brazil), and test their adsorption properties to remove heavy metal cations (Co+2, Pb+2, and Cd+2) in water, aiming its future application in situ remediations degraded ecosystems. Three types of natural seaweed were studied: Sargassum sp, Ulva lactuca, and Padina sp. These biosorbents were collected, pretreated, and modified by two chemical treatments: 1) Protonation with HCl, and, 2) Oxidation with KMnO4. The preliminary results showed that the Ulva lactuca is promising for the adsorption of heavy metal cations in water, which is also very attractive due to its great availability in the ecosystem, and it is renewable. The biosorbents (natural and modified by chemical treatments) were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The best heavy metal removal values for the best biosorbent Ulva lactuca (after chemical treatment) were:  65 mg.g-1  for Co (II), 71 mg.g-1 for Cd(II), and 78 mg.g-1 for Pb(II).

Epiphytism, diseases and grazing in seaweed aquaculture: A comprehensive review

AbstractSeaweeds are macroscopic forms of phylogenetically diverse assemblage of marine algae that grow in oceans, thriving among profoundly harsh environmental conditions. They are cultivated in many maritime nations primarily for edible applications; besides hydrocolloid extraction is the second largest domain of utility for this renewable biomass. The farming practices have been traditionally evolved in different Southeast Asian countries. Nevertheless, advancement in the knowledge about their life‐history traits and control over reproduction has paved ways for commencement of large‐scale commercial farming. Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations reported the availability of 35.8 million tons of seaweed biomass globally of which 97% accounted for farming. Although cultivation is on the rise due to relevant to social gains, epiphytic infestation, diseases and grazing have been identified as leading causes that result in substantially lower yield, deteriorated quality of product and skewed economics. Epiphytes may considerably impact the interaction of seaweed hosts with other beneficial communities also. Epidemiological studies in natural seaweed populations are scarce and this makes the understanding of the cross‐talk involving host specificity, and their role obscure. An overview of the diversity of epiphytes, understanding of mechanism of action, factors responsible, chemistry behind their interaction will help in deciphering the solutions to overcome infestation. A comprehensive report of seaweed epiphytism, diseases and grazing from the aspects of host–epiphyte interaction and their resultant consequences is presented along with the studies on economic impacts. The role of multi‐omics approaches in delineating seaweed epiphytic interactions is also included.

Adapting a Japanese Facing Technique to the Treatment of an American Landscape Plan

ABSTRACT Facings have a long history in the treatment of East Asian paintings on silk or paper to protect the surface of the painting during remounting. Materials and methods vary, but most facings involve the temporary attachment of some type of paper to the surface of the work with water or a weak, water-soluble adhesive. Contemporary Japanese practices have developed a multi-layered facing process using rayon paper and Japanese kozo paper, adhered together with funori, a natural seaweed adhesive, and wheat starch paste. The resulting composite is designed to provide a balance of protection, support, flexibility and removability as well as to extend and control treatment time. Adapting this facing process can facilitate the treatment of works on paper that are too damaged to handle safely or treatments where staff are limited. Past cases describe the removal of drawings, and historic wallpaper from secondary supports or mounts using facings. As there is limited information on Japanese facings available in published literature, this article describes the materials and methods of the original process in detail and applies its use to the treatment of a severely damaged nineteenth-century American landscape plan.

Efficacy and Safety of Nepcell STM in Achieving Hemostasis After Removal of a 15-Fr Femoral Venous Sheath in Patients Undergoing Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Hemostasis at the femoral venous access site after cryoballoon ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is often prolonged because of aggressive anticoagulation and the use of 15-Fr-caliber sheaths. The Nepcell STM (NC) is a newly developed hemostatic pad made of fibrosed calcium alginate extracted from natural seaweed. The calcium ions from the NC accelerate the clotting cascade. This single-center randomized clinical trial assessed the efficacy and safety of the NC in patients undergoing CA for AF. Methods and Results: In all, 62 patients undergoing CA for non-valvular paroxysmal AF were randomly assigned to either the NC or control group. The primary endpoints of this study were time to hemostasis, internal hemorrhage, and rebleeding. Secondary endpoints were the length of hospital stay (LOS) and vascular complications at 1 month. The time to hemostasis was significantly shorter in NC than control group (mean [±SD] 377±216 vs. 505±241 s; P=0.031). The frequency of internal hemorrhaging (6% vs. 37%; P=0.003) and rebleeding (0% vs. 13%; P=0.033) was lower in the NC than control group, contributing to a decreased LOS in the NC group (3.56±0.67 vs. 4.23±0.73 days; P<0.001). There were no NC-related vascular complications at the 1-month echographic examination. Conclusions: The use of NC was associated with a shorter hemostasis time and fewer bleeding complications in patients undergoing CA for AF, leading to a shorter LOS.

Fundamentals on seaweed potential as a promising share of nutraceuticals in alleviating the obese problem

Herbal and non-herbal extracts achieve an increased and continuous welcome as nutraceuticals in Global market demand eg., Green tea for weight loss and cancer, Ginkgo biloba to improve cognitive activities and Glucosamine in arthritis. WHO reports as 80% of world’s population relies on traditional medicine, historically provided many novel drug leads and plays a pivotal role in the facet of drug discovery. Nowadays, seaweeds cultivation is becoming very essential, as there is an inadequate natural seaweeds stock to meet the industrial need. For more than thousands of years, the medicinal effects viz., treatment of burns, rashes and wounds, of seaweeds are well established. From the literature, the marine sponges do contain many chemicals and are the good sources of minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and fibers. However, the potential effects of these nature-based species, are awaiting exploration. These challenges can be overcome by the advent of new nutraceutical formulation, which do ensure a bio-enhancing, immune-stimulating and a drug adjunct effect in bioactivities. Edible seaweeds offer interesting possibilities to develop healthier drugs and are the formidable source of nutrients and bio-compounds with proven benefits against degenerative metabolic diseases and Obesity.

Survey on the roles and impacts of seaweeds and aquatic plants in the improved extensive black tiger shrimp farms in Bac Lieu province

A survey was conducted to assess the roles and impacts of seaweeds and aquatic plants on the production and financial efficiency of black tiger shrimp in improved extensive farms through direct interviews with 60 farmers from Dong Hai district, Bac Lieu province. The householders were divided into two groups based on the presence of natural seaweed and aquatic plant, including group 1: the presence of different seaweeds and aquatic plants but the absence of red seaweed (mixed vegetation) and group 2: the presence of red seaweed dominates over the mixed vegetation. The surveyed results showed that group 2 had an average shrimp yield of 268.6 kg/ha/year with a profit of 58.4 million VND/ha/year, which was higher than that of group 1 (shrimp yield of 203.1 kg/ha/year and profit of 43.0 million VND/ha/year). Almost all farmers agreed that seaweeds and aquatic plants acted as important roles in improving water quality, providing natural food and shelter for shrimp, crab, and fish. Farmers, on the other hand, claimed that their excessive growth (high biomass) increased water transparency, limited living space, and hampered the activities of shrimp, crab, and other organisms, as well as reduced shrimp growth and production and polluted water after seaweed died off. Notably, the farm that maintained vegetation coverage ≤50% obtained higher shrimp production and profit than pond with coverage &gt;50%. Moreover, 46.7% of farmers preferred red seaweed over other seaweed and aquatic plant species in their farms.

Convenient Agarose Preparation with Hydrogen Peroxide and Desulfation Process Analysis.

Agarose is a natural seaweed polysaccharide and widely used in the medicine, food, and biological fields because of its high gel strength, non-toxicity, and electrical neutrality. The sulfate group is one of the main charged groups that affect the performance of agarose. In the present study, a simple, eco-friendly, and efficient method was explored for agarose preparation. After desulfation with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the sulfate content of agar reached 0.21%. Together with gel strength, electroendosmosis, gelling and melting temperature, the indicators of desulfated agar met the standards of commercially available agarose. Notably, the desulfated agar can be used as an agarose gel electrophoresis medium to separate DNA molecules, and the separation effect is as good as that of commercially available agarose. Further, the H2O2 desulfation process was analyzed. The addition of a hydroxyl radical (HO•) scavenger remarkably decreased the H2O2 desulfation rate, indicating that HO• has a certain role in agar desulfation. Sulfate content detection indicated that sulfur was removed from agar molecules in the form of sulfate ions (SO42−) and metal sulfate. The band absence at 850 cm−1 indicated that the sulfate groups at C-4 of D-galactose in sulfated galactan were eliminated.

Study of Seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii Explants Growth in the Different Salinity Concentrations

HighlightThe best salinity for the thallus growth of K. alvarezii is 32 mg/LThe salinity indicates the osmotic balance of K. alvarezii seaweedThis osmoregulation process affects the nutrient absorption of K. alvarezii seaweedThis study aims to develop the availibility of superior seeds of K. alvareziiAbstract Kappaphycus alvarezii is one of the leading commodities in Indonesian waters. Demand for this commodity is quite high, as reflected in the increasing volume of exports each year. Fulfillment of these demands is obtained from the production of cultivation. Generally farmers get natural seaweed seedlings, namely cuttings from existing seaweed. The continuous use of seeds from nature can cause deterioration in the quality and quantity. Handling the problem of quality deterioration from seaweed seeds originating from nature, can be overcome by multiplying the seeds through tissue culture methods in vitro. In term of tissue culture techniques method, the most important thing to note is environmental parameters. An environment parameter that changes suddenly such as salinity can inhibit the growth of seaweed. Thus, this work is attampting the different salinity treatment on seaweed explants K. alvarezii. This study aims at determining (weight) the explants of K. alvarezii with a comparison of the different salinity levels in the in vitro tissue culture method. The method used in this study was a completely randomized design (CRD) with the different salinity treatments namely 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 ppt. The results showed that the different salinities influenced the growth rate of K. alvarezii seaweed explants with the best explant growth at the salinity of 31 ppt, while the lowest growth value was obtained at 34 ppt