Structure of reproductive apparatus of Gracilaria/Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Gracilariaceae,Rhodophyta)

Reproductive apparatus of Gracilaria/Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis collected from Qingdao city were studied with a light and a transmission electron microscope. The special superficial arrangement of spermatangium for this species was clearly observed, and the ultrastructure of spermatangial devel-opment revealed the similar cytodynamic pattern followed by all the Gracilariaceae members devel-oped from spermatangial mother cells to spermatangium. The female reproductive apparatus before fertilization was also observed and trichogyne was found protruding above the cortex, contrary to the earlier reports. Tetrasporangium was formed by an outer cortical cell and the tetraspores became spherical and expended after being released.     

Chemical composition of agars from a newly reported Japanese agarophyte,Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis

The chemical composition of agars from Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis, newly reported from Japan, was investigated. Native agars were isolated by a sequential extraction of plants in water at 22 °C and 100 °C, and in boiling 20, 40 and 60° ethanol. Agars in each extract were analyzed by chemical methods, ¹H, ¹³C NMR; and IR spectroscopy. The highest yield of agar (total carbohydrate) was obtained from the 40° ethanol extract (55°). Highest sulfate content was attained in non-alkali treated agars extracted with hot water (4.81°, DS 0.2). The 3,6-anhydrogalactose content was highest in the 40° ethanol extract (36.1° in non-alkali treatment, 40.3° in alkali treatment). The highest methoxyl content (6.51°, DS 0.66) was obtained in the 60° ethanol extract. The G. lemaneiformis agar is composed of the biological precursor to agarobiose repeating units and agarobiose containing 6-O-methyl agarobiose and a small amount of 2-O-methyl-α-l-galactopyranose residues. Alkali treatment improved the chemical quality of the agar fractions, which was comparable with Japanese commercial agar and agarose.     

Optimization of the yield and quality of agar from Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Gracilariales) from the Gulf of California using an alkaline treatment

The effect of several alkali treatments on the yield, gel strength, rheology, and chemical characteristics (quality) of the agar obtained from Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis from the Gulf of California was analyzed using different alkali concentrations, temperatures and treatment times. In the first stage of the experiment, all treatments lasted 60 min and the NaOH concentrations (2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0%) and temperature (80, 90, 100°C) varied. At constant time, temperature played the predominant role, promoting an increase in agar gel strength. Based on the best treatment conditions found (4% and 5% NaOH, and 90°C and 100°C temperature), in the second stage different treatment times (15, 30, 60, 90, 120 min) were used. Since agar yields were not significantly different among temperatures and times, the optimal conditions to obtain best quality agar were those providing the highest gel strength. Treatment time played an important role in increasing gel strength. Maximum gel strength (Nikan, 954 g cm⁻²) was obtained with 5% NaOH at 100°C after 90 min of treatment, though these conditions resulted in an agar yield reduction of 25.5% relative to native agar. This treatment proved to efficiently yield G. lemaneiformis agar that will meet the commercial quality requirements regarding gel strength, 3,6 anhydrogalactose and sulfate content, as well as rheology and hysteresis. Enrique Hernández-Garibay holds a CONACyT scholarship.     

Agar properties of two species of Gracilariaceae from the Gulf of California,Mexico

Agar properties of two potentially commercial important seaweeds from the Gulf of California were studied. Maximum yield in Gracilaria vermiculophylla (45.7%) occurred during the summer months, coinciding with high water temperatures (31°C) whereas minimum yields (11.6%) were obtained during the coldest months of the year when populations of this species diminish in the bay. Gracilariopsis longissima showed two yield peaks, one in spring and another in fall, before the maximum and minimum seawater temperatures. Gel strength in native agar from the two species was low (<22.5 g cm⁻²) for most of the year. G. vermiculophylla native agar showed a slight increase in gel strength from June to August, which were the hottest months. Maximum value was 85 g cm⁻¹ in August. Maximum gel strength in G. longissima was observed in October (91 g cm⁻¹), and an unusual native agar with no detectable gel strength was observed in March and April samples. Gelling temperatures range from 27.7 to 36.5°C in G. vermiculophyla and from 26.6 to 34.9°C in G. longissima, meanwhile melting points were 73.9 – 53.5°C and 75.5 – 56.6°C, respectively. Sulfate content was high, 6.3–13.9% in G. vermiculophylla and 1.9–11.9% in G. longissima, and on the other hand 3,6 anhydrogalactose content was low 12.1–26.7% and 9.1–23%, respectively compared to other species. Results obtained showed that mean native agar yields of Gracilaria vermiculophylla and Gracilariopsis longissima from the Gulf of California are comparable to other tropical Gracilaria. However, the low gel strength, high sulfate content and low 3,6 anhydrogalactose content observed in the native agar extracted from these species make this an agaroid, thus alternative methods of extraction should be used to evaluate the possibility of commercial utilization of both species.     

Comparison of three gracilarioids: growth rate, agar content and quality

Three gracilarioid species, Gracilariopsis bailiniae and Gracilaria tenuistipitata from Vietnam and Gracilaria gracilis from Russia, were studied in order to determine whether Gracilaria gracilis might be a superior species for cultivation in brackish-water ponds for agar production compared with the Vietnamese species. The effects of different salinity levels on the growth rate and agar production as well as agar properties of three gracilarioid species were compared in controlled laboratory experiments. Gracilaria tenuistipitata and G. gracilis were tolerant to low salinity (∼10‰), whereas Gp. bailiniae died under these conditions. G. tenuistipitata showed superior growth among the three species examined. Gracilaria gracilis had the highest agar content [36.8–46.6% dry weight (dw)]. Agar yield from Vietnamese gracilarioids did not exceed 30% dw. Gel strength of native agar from Gracilaria gracilis was two-fold higher that from Vietnamese species (278 g cm⁻² vs 130 g cm⁻²). Alkali pretreatment increased gel strength significantly for Gracilaria gracilis (1.4-fold), and G. tenuistipitata and Gp. bailiniae (2.3-fold) compared with native agar. The results suggest that Gracilaria gracilis may be a suitable species for production of reasonably good quality agar.     

Optimization and scale-up of a new photobleaching agar extraction process from Gracilaria lemaneiformis

An eco-friendly photobleaching extraction process for agar extraction from the red alga Gracilaria lemaneiformis was developed for the benefit of workers’ health and environmental safety. Here we report the optimization of key process parameters (alkali modification concentration, photobleaching duration, algal length and screen filter opening size) in order to scale up this new technique. The optimal conditions were found to be modification by 3–5% NaOH, photobleaching for 5 h, using algal fragments 2 –4 cm in length, and a filter screen with a 6 μm opening. A 20-L agar extraction reactor was thus constructed, and the scale-up of the agar extraction process was tested in six batch experiments. The resulting agar quality was similar to that of the laboratory-scale extraction. In addition, batch-to-batch reproducibility was excellent. The results demonstrate the excellent scale-up ability and potential application of this new photobleaching agar extraction process on a commercial scale. The agar yield and gel strength for 5% NaOH modified agar were 26.8% and 1,897 g cm⁻², while those for 3% NaOH modified agar were 28.2% and 1,287 g cm⁻², respectively. It is clear that the agar yield and quality can be manipulated via alkali modification in this new eco-friendly extraction to meet market demands.     

大型海藻龙须菜抽提液对褶皱臂尾轮虫生命表参数的影响

大型海藻富含多种活性物质,具有抗衰老等生物活性;轮虫是良好的潜在抗衰老研究模式生物。本研究以褶皱臂尾轮虫(Brachionus plicatilis)作为实验对象,研究了不同浓度的大型海藻龙须菜抽提液(0,250,500,750,1000 mg/L)和不同浓度的食物(蛋白核小球藻和普通小球藻)对褶皱臂尾轮虫生命表参数的影响。结果表明:与对照组相比,食物浓度为1.0×10~6个/mL蛋白核小球藻时,不同浓度龙须菜抽提液对轮虫产卵数、平均寿命、净生长率以及世代时间有显著促进效应(P0.05);轮虫平均产卵数及寿命在龙须菜抽提液浓度750 mg/L处达到最高,分别为16只和13.9d(P0.05)。食物浓度为2.0×10~6个/mL普通小球藻时,轮虫平均产卵数和寿命在抽提液浓度为500 mg/L处达到最高,分别为16只和13.6d(P0.05),轮虫平均寿命和净生长率均有显著提高(P0.05)。相同龙须菜抽提液浓度下,食物浓度为1.0×10~6个/mL蛋白核小球藻下轮虫的净生长率、世代时间均显著高于食物浓度为2.0×10~6个/mL蛋白核小球藻培养的轮虫(P0.05);食物浓度为2.0×10~6个/mL时,普通小球藻培养轮虫的净生长率和世代时间均显著高于蛋白核小球藻实验组(P0.05)。交互作用分析显示,龙须菜抽提液与小球藻的交互作用对褶皱臂尾轮虫的内禀增长率有显著影响(P0.05)。研究结果表明,大型海藻龙须菜抽提液对褶皱臂尾轮虫的生长与生殖有促进作用,延长轮虫寿命。     

COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMIC STATUS OF GRACILARIOPSIS (GRACILARIALES,RHODOPHYTA)1

The vegetative organization and reproductive development of Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Bory) Dawson, Acleto et Foldvik [including Gracilaria sjoestedtii Kylin] were investigated. Our observations on spermatangial development and post-fertilization features establish that Gracilariopsis Dawson is distinct at the generic level from Gracilaria Greville, and ice propose the resurrection of Gracilariopsis Dawson as a result. Spermatangial parent cells of Gracilariopsis are superficial, initiated in pairs or groups of three by concavo-convex longitudinal and transverse divisions. Each spermatangial parent cell cuts off a single, colorless spermatangium distally by a transverse division. The female reproductive apparatus consists of a supporting cell that bears a two-celled carpogonial branch flanked by two sterile branches, as in Gracilaria. Likewise, up to six sterile cells fuse with the carpogonium after fertilization to produce a primary fusion cell that generates the gonimoblasts; however, a secondary fusion cell is absent. Inner gonimoblast cells unite with cytologically modified cells of the inner pericarp by means of secondary pit-connections. Tubular nutritive cells are absent. The gonimoblast consists of a central sterile tissue interconnected throughout by secondary pit-connections surmounted by a fertile layer composed of carposporangia aligned in straight chains. The distribution of Gracilariopsis is extended to Western Europe.     

Growth characters and photosynthetic capacity of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Gracilaria lemaneiformis</Emphasis> as a biofilter in a shellfish farming area in Sanggou Bay,China

Experiments on growth characters and ecological functions of the macroalgae Gracilaria lemaneiformis, collected from south China, were conducted in polyculture areas of kelp and filter-feeding bivalve in Sanggou Bay in Weihai City, Shandong, in north China from May 2002 to May 2003. The results of 116 days cultivation showed that the average wet weight of alga increased 89 times from 0.1 to 8.9 kg rope⁻¹, with an average specific growth rate (based on wet weight) of 3.95% per day. The most favorable water layer for its growth was 1.0–1.8 m below the surface in July and August, with an average specific growth rate of 8.2% per day in 30-day experiments. Photosynthetic activity changed seasonally, with an average of 7.3 mg O₂ g dw⁻¹ h⁻¹. The maximum rate (14.4 mg O₂ g dw⁻¹ h⁻¹) was recorded in July, or 19.3 mg CO₂ g dw⁻¹ h⁻¹, while the minimum (0.40 mg CO₂ g dw⁻¹ h⁻¹) was in April. This study indicated that the culture of G. lemaneiformis is an effective way to improve water quality where scallops are cultivated intensively.     

Regenerative capacity of Gracilaria fragments: effects of size,reproductive state and position along the axis

Field farming of Gracilaria chilensis in Chile is mainly based on the regenerative capacity of thallus fragments. This study evaluates experimentally the effects on growth of the few organismic determinants that the farmer is capable of effectively handling in the field. No differences were found in the length increments of ramets with and without apices, a surprising result in view of the generally accepted idea that the most important growth meristem in this group of algae is located in the apex of the thallus. Total elongation and increase in weight of fragments with an initial length of up to 20 cm are a function of the initial length of the ramet, suggesting that intercalary growth makes a significant contribution to growth. Vegetative female axes grow faster, (in terms of length and weight) and produce more laterals than fertile female axes, and these faster than fertile tetrasporic branches. No differences in the growth of ramets originating from proximal or distal parts of axes were found. Paper presented at the XVth International Seaweed Symposium.     

气候变化对海藻龙须菜生长与光合作用耐热特性的影响

为探讨大气CO2升高和温室效应对龙须菜生长及生理生化特性的影响,在4种条件下培养龙须菜:1)对照组(390μL/L CO2+20℃),2)CO2升高组(700μL/L CO2+20℃),3)温度升高组(390μL/L CO2+24℃),4)温室效应组(700μL/L CO2+24℃),测定藻体生长和生化组分以及高温胁迫下的最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)和光能利用效率(α)、光合速率(Pn)和呼吸速率(Rd)。结果表明,CO2升高、温度升高以及温室效应均促进龙须菜的生长,温室效应下的促进作用更明显。温室效应使龙须菜具较高的Pn和Rd以及较低的可溶性蛋白(SP)和可溶性碳水化合物(SC)含量。高浓度CO2对叶绿素(Chl a)和类胡萝卜素(Car)含量没有显著影响,而高温使其上升;藻红蛋白(PE)和藻蓝蛋白(PC)含量不受CO2浓度和温度的影响。龙须菜Fv/Fm、α、Pn和Rd值,在32℃处理3 h后略有上升,在36℃处理3 h后下降,而在40℃处理20 min后降到极低水平。正常温度(20℃)生长的龙须菜最高耐受温度在32—36℃之间,而较高温(24℃)生长的龙须菜在36—40℃之间;生长温度对光合作用和呼吸作用耐热性能的影响比CO2浓度的影响更大;而温室效应生长条件下的龙须菜光合作用表现出更突出的耐热性能。     

大气CO2增加对不同生长光强下龙须菜光合生理特性的影响

为了探讨未来大气CO2升高对不同生长光强下大型海藻的影响,选取经济红藻龙须菜为实验材料,研究了其生长速率、光合作用、呼吸作用、叶绿素荧光参数以及光合色素对CO2和光强的响应。实验设置两个CO2浓度,正常空气水平CO2浓度(390μL/L)和高CO2浓度(1000μL/L);两个光强梯度,高光(300μmol m-2s-1)和低光(100μmol m-2s-1)。结果表明,CO2和光强对龙须菜的生长和光合作用有明显的交互作用。大气CO2升高并没有显著影响龙须菜的生长速率,但在不同CO2处理下,龙须菜对光强的响应不同。在空气水平下,光强的变化对其生长速率影响不显著。而在高CO2作用下,高光处理下的藻体有更高的生长速率。CO2显著促进高光生长下龙须菜的呼吸作用速率,但是在低光下作用不明显。而对于光合作用速率来说,低光培养下的藻体CO2表现为负面效应,但对高光下生长的藻体作用不明显。CO2增加没有改变龙须菜生长状态下的电子传递速率,但在高光下,CO2表现为一定的抑制作用。CO2显著降低了龙须菜天线色素藻红蛋白和叶绿素a的含量。这些CO2与光强的结合效应表明,大气CO2的升高对龙须菜光合生理特性的影响随着光强的变化而呈现不同的效应,在未来评估CO2的增加对大型海藻的影响时,要充分考虑其他环境因子的耦合效应。     

两种抗生素对龙须菜的光合生理效应

探讨了不同浓度的两种抗生素(氯霉素和青霉素G钠)对龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis)生长、光合作用、呼吸作用、色素含量以及可溶性蛋白含量等生理特性的影响。结果表明:龙须菜的生长受到两种抗生素的影响,但是氯霉素的影响要比青霉素G钠的影响大的多。在氯霉素处理的过程中,光合作用、有效光化学效率(Yield)、藻红藻蓝蛋白以及可溶性蛋白含量都随着氯霉素浓度的升高而显著下降,但是呼吸作用速率由于氯霉素的处理而升高;此外光合色素含量不受氯霉素的影响。在青霉素G钠的处理中,光合作用、有效光化学效率随着青霉素G钠的升高而下降,龙须菜叶绿素a与类胡萝卜素含量随着青霉素G钠浓度的升高而具有升高的趋势,但藻红蛋白、藻蓝蛋白以及可溶性蛋白在各处理组之间均没有表现出一定趋势。这些结果说明,氯霉素对生长的影响主要是光合作用速率的下降,以及有关蛋白合成下降引起,而青霉素G钠对生长的影响可能原因是呼吸作用速率的增加引起。由于龙须菜对氯霉素的敏感性比对青霉素G钠的敏感性更强,氯霉素在基因工程的育种中可能更适合作为选择压力。     

不同温度及二氧化碳浓度下培养的龙须菜光合生理特性对阳光紫外辐射的响应

为了研究不同温度及CO₂浓度下培养的大型海藻对紫外辐射的生理学响应,选取龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis)作为实验材料。实验设置两个温度梯度(20 ℃和24 ℃),两种CO₂浓度(390 μL/L和1000 μL/L)以及3种辐射处理,即可见光(PAR)处理(滤除紫外线A(UV-A)、紫外线B(UV-B),400-700 nm)、可见光加紫外线A(PA)处理(滤除UV-B,320-700 nm)、PAB处理(全波长辐射280-700 nm)。结果表明,酸化、升温以及紫外辐射处理都未影响大型经济红藻龙须菜的叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素的含量。然而紫外辐射处理显著降低了龙须菜的有效光化学效率,其抑制水平在酸化处理的藻体中更为显著,并且随着温度的上升而进一步加剧;酸化与温度耦合使藻体对紫外辐射的敏感性增加,导致其较低的修复速率以及较高的损伤速率。     

Response of Audouinella saviana (Meneghini) Woelkerling (Nemaliales,Rhodophyta) cultures to monochromatic light

Audouinella saviana (Meneghini) Woelkerling was cultured at a constant temperature (24 °C) and different irradiances (from 1 µmol to 30 µmol photons m^–2 s^–1) of blue (430–470 nm) and green (500–560 nm) light in order to study its adaptive response. Modifications in colour, morphology and ultrastructure of the thalli, together with changes in pigment composition and in the spectral properties of chlorophyll a and R-phycoerythrin, were observed both by means of light and electron microscopy (TEM, SEM) and spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric analyses. In this paper we report the adaptive response of the seaweed to blue and green radiation by focussing on the cell wall and on the photosynthetic apparatus, particularly on phycobilisomes in situ and on R-PE after extraction. PBSs were fully structured only under blue light at low irradiance whilst they were absent under green light, whatever the irradiance, in spite of the high R-PE content. This fact, together with the spectral changes of R-PE, suggests adaptation at a molecular level, presumably referable to changes in aggregation state.     

Ultrastructure of sperm cells in the female gonoduct of Xiphinema

The ultrastructure of the sperm cells in the female gonoduct of the nematodes Xiphinema theresiae and X. pinoides is described. The nucleus of the sperm cells is composed of several electron-dense clumps of chromatin that is not surrounded by a nuclear envelope. A layer of mitochondria, in which the mitochondrial cristae are only rarely visible, lies around the nuclear material. In the surrounding cytoplasm packets of electron-dense fibres are abundant. The sperm in the uterus have the following surface differentiations: highly intertwined protrusions between adjacent sperm cells, protrusions coinciding with the plication of the inner uterine wall and a slightly undulated surface towards the uterine lumen. It is argued that in the uterus, the sperm cells actively move in proximal direction by a mechanism resembling pseudopodial movement, in which the packets of fibres are involved. In the oviduct, the sperm cells loose their surface protrusions and the packets of fibres gradually become less abundant. Since the oviduct has no pre-formed lumen, the sperm cells appear to wedge their way along by forcing oviduct cells apart.     

Physiological and biochemical response of seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis to concentration changes of N and P

This paper presents the studies of nitrogen and phosphorus (N/P) concentrations influence on the antioxidantivity of Gracilaria lemaneiformis and the physio-chemical features in an indoor seawater culture system. The results showed that the specific growth rate, the chemical composition (concentrations of chlorophyll a, phycoerythrin and soluble protein), nitrate reductase activity, antioxidantive defense system (the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase) and propyldialdehyde content of G. lemaneiformis were affected by changes in concentrations of N and P, and in seaweed culture time. G. lemaneiformis showed increased growth rate when the N/P concentrations increased from 50/3.13 µmol/L to 400/25 µmol/L. But when the N/P concentrations exceeded 400/25 µmol/L, the growth rate dropped significantly. The trend became more obvious once the N/P concentrations reached 600 / 37.5 µmol/L. At these concentrations, the chloroplasts in G. lemaneiformis were damaged as evidences that 1) the number of thylakoids was increased, some of them were swollen up, irregularly aligned, ruptured and partly dissolved; 2) the chloroplast volume was increased; and 3) starch grains in chloroplasts accumulated significantly. On the basis of these results, a remediation critical point for the growth of G. lemaneiformis under high N/P concentrations was proposed.