1. Seasonal patterns of growth, alginate content and block structure of the alien invader Sargassum muticum (Fucales, Ochrophyta) from the Atlantic coast of Morocco
- Author
-
Zahira Belattmania, Samir El Atouani, Fouad Bentiss, Charafeddine Jama, Annalisa Falace, Abdellatif Chaouti, Abdeltif Reani, Brahim Sabour, Université Chouaib Doukkali (UCD), Unité Matériaux et Transformations - UMR 8207 (UMET), Centrale Lille-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Belattmania, Zahira, El Atouani, Samir, Bentiss, Fouad, Jama, Charafeddine, Falace, Annalisa, Chaouti, Abdellatif, and Reani and Brahim Sabour, Abdeltif
- Subjects
seasonal variation ,[CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/Polymers ,alginate ,chemical characterisation ,rheology ,Sargassum muticum ,Plant Science ,[CHIM.MATE]Chemical Sciences/Material chemistry ,Aquatic Science ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
In the present study, alginate yield and composition were investigated during the seasonal life cycle of the alien brown alga Sargassum muticum harvested from the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Alginate yield ranged from 11.14% in winter to 25.62% in spring/early summer, coinciding with maximum vegetative growth. Monthly monitoring of the alginate block structure showed that the highest mannuronate (M)/guluronate (G) ratio was recorded during the maximum development of S. muticum, before sexual maturity and during resumption of vegetative growth, giving maximum flexibility to the alga. The unusually high molar monad fractions (FG) and dyad fractions (FGG) of guluronic acid in late summer/early autumn appeared to be related to stiffness of senescent thalli. Rheological characterisation showed that the alginate of S. muticum exhibited pseudoplastic behaviour, with the highest apparent viscosities measured in late summer/early autumn when the G blocks dominated the alginate structure. This study suggests that S. muticum could be exploited as an alginophyte for commercial applications. The best harvest time is May-June, which corresponds to the highest alginate yield, maximum thallus growth, and largely completed sexual reproduction, ensuring sustainable exploitation of the species.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF