Eucheuma

Cultivation of Eucheuma with auxiliary lines

Eucheuma is a commercially important species of red algae. Seaweed is used for the production of carrageenan. They are found as an additive in cosmetics and food, in the producing countries it is used as foodstuff.

Description

The growth habit is very variable. The thallus is sometimes long and loosely branched with few blunt or clear small branches, sometimes densely branched with many coarse, spiny branches. The branches are irregularly arranged on indefinite main strains without forming vortices. In the cross section of a branch can be seen medullary cords, consisting of large rounded cells interspersed with small, relatively thick-walled cells.

It is in Eucheuma to the most common and fastest growing species in the Philippines. The red algae commonly grow on coral sandy to rocky substrates from the lower tide mark to the subtidal zone where the water movement is slow to moderate. They grow with the apical meristem with actively dividing cells at the tip of branches. In addition, they show a three-phase life cycle consisting of a gametophyte ( n ) ( dioecious ), Karposporophyt (2n ) and the sporophyte. Gametophyte and sporophyte are the major phases in the life cycle, while the latter is more robust. In addition, in Eucheuma the high vegetative regeneration capacity is characteristic of what growers can use to their advantage.

Use

The most important industrial application is the extraction of carrageenan, often called seaweed meal. Approximately 25 % of the dry weight is carrageenan. The refined form can be used as food and feed. In Indonesia and the Philippines Eucheuma is eaten raw as a salad. In Europe, processed Eucheuma seaweed are generally approved as a food additive E 407a unlimited in foods with few exceptions.