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| Authority: Doty |
Type
species: n/a |
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| Commercial
species: alvarezii
(ALV), cottonii (COT). inerme
(INM), interme (INR), striatum
(STT),
procrusteanum (PRO)
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| Common
names: Agal agal, Agal agal besar, Agar-agar, Agar agar
besar, Agar agar pulau, Agar agar seru laut,
Chilin-t' sai, Cottonii, Eucheuma, Eucheuman, Guso, Kirinsai |
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Classification:
Eukaryota, Phylum Rhodophyta, Class Rhodophyceae, Subclass
Florideophycidae, Order Gigartinales, Family Areschougiaceae. |
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| AlgaeBase
names and species: 6 names - 6 current as of 12-2001. |
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For a thorough treatment see
SuriaLink
Monograph # 1-0703 |
The ABC of
Eucheuma Seaplant Production
Agronomy, Biology and Crop-handling of Betaphycus, Eucheuma and
Kappaphycus
the Gelatinae, Spinosum
and Cottonii of Commerce |
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Production
Almost all commercially available Kappaphycus is
cultivated. This is a fast-growing genus that can exhibit specific
growth rates on the order of 3-6% per day and yields upwards of 30
dry tons/hectare/year on well-tended farms. Approximate annual
production figures from recent years are shown above. Please note that Kappaphycus
cultivation has been tried over the past three decades in several
countries and attempts to grow the genus commercially continue in
many countries. Many have made a few commercial shipments and some
may yet become steady commercial sources. These countries include
Brazil, Cuba, Djibouti, French Antilles, French Polynesia, Guam,
Federated States of Micronesia (notably Ponape), Honduras, Japan,
Kenya, Kiribati, Maldives, Myanmar, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga,
Tuvalu, USA (Hawaii), Venezuela and Vietnam. |
| We have
several documents in progress for the Carragar
Community. Click to the production
index to see available web pages and
monographs. Two that are of particular relevance to Kappaphycus
farming are the Definition of Factors Critical to the Success of Seaplant
Farming Ventures and the Guide to
Seaplant Farm Development & Management. |
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Biology & Agronomy
Commercial cottonii production is
currently on the order of 80-120,000 dry tons per year at the
commercial standard of 38% moisture-content.
Although some cottonii is
consumed directly as human food most material is used as a source of the
commercially valuable marine biopolymer (red algal galactan) called carrageenan.
Cottonii is
commercially cultivated on a substantial, continuous basis in the
Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia (Sabah) and Tanzania. Experimental
farming or intermittent commercial activity has occurred in several
countries including China, Japan, Federated States of Micronesia
(Ponape), Fiji, Kiribati, USA (Hawaii), Belize, Cuba, Venezuela,
Madagascar, Maldives, Vietnam, and India. In all of these countries
cultivation has utilised cultivars initially developed to commercial
scale in the Philippines. In some cases local cultivars have also
entered commercial production but it appears that most of the world crop
is still descended from introduced Philippine material. |
Chemistry
We also have a monograph in process on the subject of red
algal galactans. These are the basis for commercial marine
biopolymers such as carrageenan and agar.
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Processing
We have several monographs in progress covering analytical
procedures, post-harvest treatment and semi-refining technology
for Kappaphycus and other eucheuma seaweeds. Check the processing
index for available web pages and monographs.
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Products, Uses & Applications
Most Kappaphycus is dried, baled or sacked and shipped for
processing into semirefined or refined carrageenan. Some is eaten
fresh as food. Check the Carragar
Links and the Biopolymer
Links for information on these topics.
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| List of
species' uses and community affiliations |
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| Genus |
GenID |
SpID |
Species |
Uses |
Communities |
| Kappaphycus |
KA |
ALV |
alvarezii |
FH, FI, IA, MD, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Kappaphycus |
KA |
COT |
cottonii |
FH, FI, IA, MD, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Kappaphycus |
KA |
INM |
inerme |
FH, FI, IA, MD, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Kappaphycus |
KA |
INR |
interme |
FH, FI, IA, MD, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Kappaphycus |
KA |
PRO |
procrusteanum |
FH, FI, IA, MD, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Kappaphycus |
KA |
STT |
striatum |
FH, FI, IA, MD, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
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click
to relevant uses or communities on the index/legend table below>>> |
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 to
uses
to communities
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Kappaphycus is most strongly associated with the Seaweed
and Biopolymer
communities. The genus is also eaten as a Seavegetable.
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