Rennielyn Rupert1, Kenneth F. Rodrigues1, Harry L. H. Chong2 and Wilson T. L. Yong1,3
1Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400, Malaysia
2Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400, Malaysia
3Seaweed Research Unit, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400, Malaysia
Red algae are commonly cultivated across the world, especially in Asian countries including Malaysia. The red algae, particularly Kappaphycus alvarezii, is crucial for biomass production and as a source of revenue for local farmers. Throughout the years, the biomass yield of the seaweed farming industry has been gradually decreased by the ice-ice disease infection. Hence, this study aims to investigate the persistent bacteria associated with Kappaphycus seaweeds that adapt in a cultivation system and may be a potential causative biotic agent to the disease. The data provided includes bacterial community profiles on the surface of K. alvarezii, which was isolated directly on the first day and after 30 days of cultivation in a closed circulation system. Kappaphycus alvarezii seedlings were maintained in a laboratory setting under controlled growth conditions for 30 days to examine bacteria that could adapt to an extended culture duration and perhaps induce biotic stress to the culture. Bacterial 16S rDNA amplification and sequencing were carried out on bacterial isolates associated with seedlings for taxonomic identification. The data reveals a distinct set of microbial changes between day one and day 30. The phylogenetic tree depicts four major clusters that inhabit on the surface of K. alvarezii: Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, and Bacterioplanes. The comparison of these two bacterial groups provides evidence of the persistent marine bacteria that adapt to long-term culture in closed circulation systems and suggests that biofilm formation may be the first stage of disease colonization and infection on seaweed seedlings.