Eucheuma
| Eucheuma | ||||||||||||
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Cultivation of Eucheuma with auxiliary lines |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Eucheuma | ||||||||||||
| J. Agardh |
Eucheuma is a commercially important genus of red algae . The seaweed is used to make carrageenan . It is found as an additive in cosmetics and food, in the growing countries it is used as food.
description
The growth form is very variable. The thallus is sometimes long and loosely branched with a few blunt or clear small branches, sometimes densely branched with many coarse, prickly branches. The branches are arranged irregularly on indefinite main trunks without forming eddies. In the cross section of a branch one can see medullary cords consisting of large rounded cells interspersed with small, relatively thick-walled cells.
Distribution and ecology
It is in euchema the most common and fastest growing species in the Philippines. The red algae usually grow on sandy corals to stony subsoil from the lower tide mark to the subtidal zone, where water movement is slow to moderate. They grow with apical meristems with actively dividing cells at the top of the branches. In addition, they show a three-phase life cycle consisting of a gametophyte (n) ( dioecious ), carposporophyte (2n) and the sporophyte . Gametophyte and sporophyte are the major stages in the life cycle, while the latter is more robust. In addition, the high vegetative regeneration capacity is characteristic of Eucheuma , which growers can use to their advantage.
use
The most important industrial application is the extraction of carrageenan , often called seaweed flour. About 25% of the dry weight is carrageenan. The refined form can be used as food and feed. In Indonesia and the Philippines , Eucheuma is consumed raw as a salad. In Europe, processed Eucheuma algae are generally permitted unlimitedly as a food additive E 407a in foods with a few exceptions .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Guiry, MD & Guiry, GM 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway
- ↑ Keto E. Mshigeni, Regine Jahn: Eucheuma (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) in the W Indian Ocean Region: Notes on collections kept in Berlin-Dahlem and Hamburg. Willdenowia, Vol. 25, H. 1 (Jun. 20, 1994), pp. 399-407, JSTOR 3996992
- ↑ a b FAO: Cultured Aquatic Species Information Program: Eucheuma spp.
- ^ Roberto Foscarini, Jayant Prakash: Handbook on Eucheuma Seawood Cultivation in Fiji. Introduction
- ↑ ZZulV : Appendix 4 (to Section 5, Paragraph 1 and Section 7) Limited additives
Web links
Wikispecies: Eucheuma - species directory