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Spatial and temporal variations of Chondrus crispus (Gigartinaceae, Rhodophyta) carrageenan content in natural populations from Galicia (NW Spain)

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Abstract

Qualitative and quantitative differences in carrageenan composition of gametophytes and tetrasporophytes of Chondrus crispus were observed in this study. Carrageenans in gametophytes belong to the kappa family (κ-, ι-, ν- and μ-carrageenan). The dominant fractions were κ- and ι-carrageenan (more than 50% of the total carrageenans). In tetrasporophytes, the presence of λ-carrageenan was confirmed. Carrageenan content in gametophytes (37.4 ± 1.68% DW) was higher than in tetrasporophytes (29.13 ± 0.76% DW). Spatial and temporal variation in carrageenan content in both life cycle phases appears to be related mainly to seawater and air temperatures, insolation, water movement and desiccation. The highest values of carrageenan content were recorded in those localities where higher values of precipitation, wind speed or water movement occurred. A bimodal temporal pattern on carrageenan content was observed. Fronds showed a high carrageenan content in spring and autumn. During these seasons, the content was over 40% in gametophytes and 30% in the tetrasporophytes. In summer and winter, these values down in both life cycle phases below 30%. In general the highest carrageenan contents were related to highest seawater temperatures. On the contrary, high air temperature and high insolation appeared to be unfavourable for carrageenan production. GLM models were obtained to predict carrageenan production from natural C. crispus populations, along Galician coast.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Carrasea Project (www.carrasea.org) of the European programme Aquareg (Interreg III-C). We thank to María Soledad Saborido for her assistance in field and laboratory work and to Christine Francis for help in revising the English. We also thank to M. Doval and Y. Pazos (Intecmar, Xunta de Galicia) for providing us the oceanographic data.

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  1. Servizo de Planificación, Dirección Xeral de Ordenación e Xestión dos Recursos Mariños, Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, CP 15703, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Manuel García Tasende

  2. Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, c/Serrano 115, CP 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Miguel Cid

  3. Departamento de Botánica, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago, CP.15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    M. Isabel Fraga

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  1. Manuel García Tasende
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  2. Miguel Cid
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  3. M. Isabel Fraga
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Correspondence to Manuel García Tasende.

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García Tasende, M., Cid, M. & Fraga, M.I. Spatial and temporal variations of Chondrus crispus (Gigartinaceae, Rhodophyta) carrageenan content in natural populations from Galicia (NW Spain). J Appl Phycol 24, 941–951 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-011-9715-y

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