Ida T. Capacio1, Paul John Paguergan1, Pia Sesbreno1, Alan T. Crtichley2, Anicia Q. Hurtado3
1National Seaweed Technology and Development Center, Cabid-an, Sorosgon City 4700 Philippines
2Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and Environment, Cape Breton, Canada
3Integrated Services for the Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries (ISDA) Inc. MacArthur Highway, Tabuc Suba, Iloilo City 5000 Philippines
The use of a phyco-biostimulant from the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum has been widely used in agricultural crops for decades. However, it was recently discovered that the same extract can be successfully applied in the micropropagation and field cultivation stages of eucheumatoids.
The present study tested the efficacy an alkali extract from A. nodosum on Kappaphycus alvarezii (aka AMPEP) with the aim of enhancing growth rate and mitigating ice-ice disease (IID) and the incidence of epiphytes. Three innovative measures were used to grow the seaweed using super twine and PER#4 in tying the seedlings and also growing the same seaweeds in tubular nets with prior dipping with AMPEP for 1 hr before outplanting in the sea. A total of three growth cycles of 45 days each from November to June (representing the dry months) were followed. Ice-ice disease and epiphyte incidences (%) were measured and correlated with the prevailing water quality.
Mean DGR of thalli treated with AMPEP, using the three cultivation methods used were significantly (p<0.05) different during the three consecutive growth cycles. However, it was observed that during the third growing cycle (May-June), negative growth was recorded in double loops and super twine despite the AMPEP treatment. Growth rates, IID and epiphyte incidences were significantly correlated with temperature and salinity at p<0.01. The same parameters did not significantly correlate with IID and epiphytes, except for DGR at p<0.05.
This study clearly demonstrated the effects of increased temperature and salinity brought by environmental change on Kappaphycus growth rates, IID and epiphyte incidence. The cultivated biomass was also processed for semi-refined carrageenan and data on yield, viscosity and gel strength will be presented.
Key words: super twine, double loop, tubular net, K. alvarezii, growth rate, ice ice and epiphytes