Seasonal variation in the biomass and agar yield from Gracilaria cervicornis and Hydropuntia cornea from Brazil.
Seasonality of biomass and agar yield from two agarophytes (G. cervicornis and H. cornea) was determined. The biomass from G. cervicornis was higher (390 g m-2) during the dry season and lower during the rainy season (129 g m-2). The data analysis for G. cervicornis revealed a significant seasonal variation (P < 0.05). H. cornea did not show a clear seasonal variation and was present only from March to August. The peak in biomass for this species was recorded in April (383 g m-2) and was significantly different from the other months (P < 0.05). The agar yield for G. cervicornis varied from 11% to 20%, with generally higher values recorded during the dry season. The agar yield showed a highly significant variation (P < 0.001). Agar yield from H. cornea ranged from 29% to 41%, with a peak recorded in June. The results above indicate that H. cornea can be considered a good candidate for commercial use.
Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, UFRN-Laboratório de Macroalgas, Via Costeira, Praia de Mãe Luiza, s/n, Natal-RN 59014-100, Brazil. lmacroalgas@dol.ufrn.br
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E
Marinho-Soriano
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Silva
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Moreira
D000362:Agar / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018533:Biomass; D001938:Brazil; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons
D000362:Agar