Effects of selected environmental conditions on growth and carrageenan quality of laboratory-cultured Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta) in Fiji, South Pacific

Shalvina, Ashmeeta and De Ramon N'Yeurt, Antoine and Lako, Jimaima and Piovano, Susanna (2022) Effects of selected environmental conditions on growth and carrageenan quality of laboratory-cultured Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta) in Fiji, South Pacific. Journal of Applied Phycology, 34 . pp. 1033-1043. ISSN 0921-8971

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Abstract

The impacts of environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, and nutrients) on growth, semi-refned carrageenan yield, gel strengths, and viscosity were assessed on the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in laboratory culture. Results showed that K. alvarezii had a higher daily growth rate (0.94% day-1) at higher temperature (30 °C). Its semi-refned carrageenan yield was high (75.79%) at a combination of low salinity (25 ppt) and high temperature (30 °C). Conversely, gel strengths made out of semi-refned carrageenan from K. alvarezii cultured at low temperature (24 °C) demonstrated a higher compression (5.84 N) and high penetration strength (0.29 N). Highest viscosity (289.50 cP) was attained at a combination of high temperature, low salinity, and high nutrient concentration. Gels made from carrageenan of K. alvarezii grown in a higher temperature (30 °C) mixed with pineapple juice showed higher compression strength demonstrating that carrageenan extracted from cultured
K. alvarezii is a good thickening agent for fruit jellies or similar food products that do not require refrigeration. This could beneft communities in rural, non-electrifed communities/areas of Fiji and other South Pacifc Islands that could use K. alvarezii as an alternative gelling agent in the making of food products contributing towards their food and economic security.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Kappaphycus alvarezii, Rhodophyta, Cultivation, Daily growth rate, Carrageenan, Gel strength
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QK Botany S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Divisions:	Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD)
Depositing User:	Antoine N'Yeurt
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2022 23:38
Last Modified:	22 Dec 2022 00:42
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/13210

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