• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.205-216
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• 2010

The marine red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii is a major source of $\kappa$-carrageenan. It has been introduced in 20 countries including India. Recently, several reports have expressed concerns about Kappaphycus invasion on Acropora corals at Kurusadai Island in the Gulf of Mannar, India, which is part of a marine bioreserve. To understand the extent of the Kappaphycus invasion, 27 randomly selected locations around Kurusadai Island and the mainland coast were surveyed during May-August 2008 and July 2009. Our rigorous sampling revealed that K. alvarezii was confined to two different patches of 105 m $\times$ 55 m and 8 m $\times$ 9 m located at the southeastern part of Kurusadai Island. The actual extent of the K. alvarezii canopy coverage was 76.7 $m^2$, accounting for less than 0.0035% of the total coral reef area. The daily growth rate of the K. alvarezii at Kurusadai was 0.7%. K. alvarezii was not observed in the coral reef area of the adjoining Pullivasal and Poomarichan Islands or the Palk Bay area cultivation sites. The lack of functional reproductive cycle, low spore viability, and the absence of microscopic phases in the life cycle of this alga coupled with the abundance presence of herbivores may restrict the further spread of this alga, so its invasive potential at Kurusadai Island is considered remote.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2010

Species Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty, Kappaphycus striatum (Schmitz.) Doty and Eucheuma denticulatum (N. L. Burman) Collins et Harvey, which was brought to Vietnam from Japan in 1993 and Coco island, Martan Sea, Cebu, Philippines in 2005 have been cultivated in the different coasts of South Central Vietnam. Their growth rates and physical properties of carrageenan, then, were analyzed. The obtained results showed that the growth rate of E. denticulatum and K. striatum strains is higher than those of K. alvarezii. Species of K. striatum could grow over wide range of temperature and tolerate more strongly to high temperature compared with K. alvarezii, but their content and gel strength of kappa-carrageenan were almost the same and high. For purpose of the Kappahycus cultivation farms with stable and high production all year round (especially in the seawaters of shallow, semi-closed Lagoons where the water movement is not good and with high temperature in the hot season), mixed cropping of K. alvarezii and K. striatum as seeds stock during different cropping seasons was established. Our results suggested that K. alvarezii and K. striatum could be grown in the cool season (from Oct. to next March) with the same and high content and gel strength of kappa - carrageenan, but in the hot season need to chose K. striatum for cultivation only (from Apr. to Sept.).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1259-1266
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• 2016

Bioethanol was produced from Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed biomass using separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF). Pretreatment was evaluated for 60 min at 121℃ using 12% (w/v) biomass slurry with 364 mM H₂SO₄. Enzymatic saccharification was then carried out at 45℃ for 48 h using Celluclast 1.5 L. Ethanol fermentation with 12% (w/v) K. alvarezii hydrolyzate was performed using the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC1126, Kluyveromyces marxianus KCTC7150, and Candida lusitaniae ATCC42720 with or without prior adaptation to high concentrations of galactose. When non-adapted S. cerevisiae, K. marxianus, and C. lusitaniae were used, 11.5 g/l, 6.7 g/l, and 6.0 g/l of ethanol were produced, respectively. When adapted S. cerevisiae, K. marxianus, and C. lusitaniae were used, 15.8 g/l, 11.6 g/l, and 13.4 g/l of ethanol were obtained, respectively. The highest ethanol concentration was 15.8 g/l, with Y_EtOH = 0.43 and Y_T% = 84.3%, which was obtained using adapted S. cerevisiae.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

As the global demand for the carrageenophyte Kappaphycus is steadily increasing, its overall productivity, carrageenan quality, and disease resistance are gradually declining. In the face of this dilemma, wild Kappaphycus populations are viewed as sources of new cultivars that could potentially enhance production; therefore, assessment of their diversity is crucial. This study highlights the morphological and genetic diversity of wild Kappaphycus species obtained from two sites in the Philippines. Nucleotide alignments of available 5' region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI-5P) and cox2-3 spacer sequences of Kappaphycus confirmed the presence of K. alvarezii in Guiuan, Eastern Samar and K. striatus in Bolinao, Pangasinan. Based on the concatenated sequences of the COI-5P and the cox2-3 spacer, nine novel haplotypes were observed along with other published haplotypes. However, there was no relationship between haplotype and morphology. These newly recognized haplotypes indicate a reservoir of unutilized wild genotypes in the Philippines, which could be taken advantage of in developing new cultivars with superior traits. DNA barcodes generated from this study effectively expand the existing databank of Kappaphycus sequences and can provide insights in elucidating the genetic diversity of Kappaphycus species in the country.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2016

Thermal acid hydrolysis pretreatment of Kappaphycus alvarezii was carried out with 12% (w/v) seaweed slurry and 180 mM H₂SO₄ at 140°C for 5 min. Utility of the thermotolerant yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus KCTC7150 was evaluated with respect to cell growth and ethanol fermentation at 40°C was close to optimal for enzymatic hydrolysis. This could lead to the integration of both the saccharification and fermentation processes. The levels of ethanol production by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with non-adapted and adapted K. marxianus KCTC7150 were 9.1 g/l with an ethanol yield (Y_EtOH) of 0.24 and 10.2 g/l with an ethanol yield (Y_EtOH) of 0.27 at 156 h, respectively. The two-phase SSF process was employed in this study to improve the efficiency of ethanol fermentation. Adapted K. marxianus KCTC7150 using the two-phase SSF process produced 13.5 g/l with an ethanol yield (Y_EtOH) of 0.35 at 96 h. Development of the two-phase SSF process could enhance the overall ethanol fermentation yields of the seaweed K. alvarezii.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2024

The aim of this study was to analyze the income and productivity of seaweed farmers based on farmed land ownership status. This research was conducted in three provinces on the Sulawesi Island which are ranked among the 10 largest seaweed producers in Indonesia: Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi. The twelve study sites were determined based on 5 special criteria and 792 respondents fulfilled the criteria for seaweed farmers. Data were collected through field surveys and analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results showed that the seaweed farming areas are considered as private property with 4 types of marine land tenure or ownership status: own land, inherited land, leasehold land and purchased land. The productivity of seaweed farming land had a positive value greater than 1 in South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi, and a positive value of less than 1 in Central Sulawesi. Seaweed cultivation in Central Sulawesi has not been managed effectively. At all sites, the maximum number of growing season cycles was 5 cycles/year. Optimal growing season conditions gave the highest marginal returns at 2-3 cycles/year with additional costs exceeding additional income for more than 3 cycles/year.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.627-636
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• 2011

A commercially important alkaline protease, produced by Bacillus sp. RRM1 isolated from the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex Silva, was first recognized and characterized in the present study. Identification of the isolated bacterium was done using both biochemical characterization as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The bacterial strain, Bacillus sp. RRM1, produced a high level of protease using easily available, inexpensive agricultural residues solid-state fermentation (SSF). Among them, wheat bran was found to be the best substrate. Influences of process parameters such as moistening agents, moisture level, temperature, inoculum concentration, and co-carbon and co-nitrogen sources on the fermentation were also evaluated. Under optimized conditions, maximum protease production (i.e., 2081 U/g) was obtained from wheat bran, which is about 2-fold greater than the initial conditions. The protease enzyme was stable over a temperature range of 30-$60^{\circ}C$ and pH 6-12, with maximum activity at $50^{\circ}C$ and pH 9.0. Whereas the metal ions $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $K^+$ enhanced the activity of the enzyme, others such as $Hg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$, and $Zn^{2+}$ had rendered negative effects. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by EDTA and enhanced by $Cu^{2+}$ ions, thus indicating the nature of the enzyme as a metalloprotease. The enzyme showed extreme stability and activity even in the presence of detergents, surfactants, and organic solvents. Moreover, the present findings opened new vistas in the utilization of wheat bran, a cheap, abundantly available, and effective waste as a substrate for SSF.