Agar production from Gracilariopsis heteroclada (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) grown at different salinity levels

Abstract

Gracilariopsis heteroclada grown in fiber glass tanks at four salinity levels was treated with three different concentrations of aqueous NaOH. Yield, gel strength, gelling and melting temperatures of the extracted agar were determined. Plants grown at salinities of 24 and 32 ppt and treated with 3% NaOH produced the strongest gel (850 g cm^-2) and weakest gel (300 g cm^-2), respectively. Statistically significant differences in gel strength, dynamic gelling and melting temperatures were observed between the various treatments. The interactive effect of salinity and NaOH was significant in gel strength, gelling and melting temperatures of the gel from G. heteroclada.