title: Changes in total nitrogen and amino acid composition of New Zealand Undaria pinnatifida with growth, location and plant parts.
abstract: Undaria pinnatifida is known as unwanted organism in New Zealand. However, Wakame is a traditional food made of U. pinnatifida, which is now cultured extensively in East Asia. Therefore, it is important to examine this introduced alga as a potential source of dietary protein for human consumption in New Zealand. This study determined total nitrogen content and amino acid profile of New Zealand U. pinnatifida harvested from the Marlborough Sounds on a monthly basis from June to November 2011. Total average nitrogen content and crude protein content was 21.02 mg/g dry weight and 13.1% of dry weight, respectively. The three most abundant amino acids that contributed to flavour (glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine) were present and the most abundant essential amino acids were arginine, leucine, lysine and valine. The results showed that the amino acid content in blades from the exposed farm was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the others. Sporophyll maturation of U. pinnatifida in New Zealand influenced protein content and amino acid composition. Sporophyll, considered as a waste product by many, was found to be a potentially good source of protein.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environment Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: April Yongdong
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environment Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: john.robertson@aut.ac.nz.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environment Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand; Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, 34 St Paul Street, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nazimah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environment Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Qianli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environment Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand; Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, 34 St Paul Street, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; School of Interprofessional Health Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, 90 Akoranga Drive, Auckland 0627, New Zealand; Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Auckland University of Technology, St Paul Street, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D044648:Undaria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Amino acid; Blade; Monthly changes; Sporophyll; Total nitrogen; Undaria pinnatifida