Enhancing the growth, hydrocolloid, and mineral content of Gracilaria verrucosa by selecting seedstock beyond local sources and various cultivation methods
The quality of seedlings is essential for optimal growth rate and seaweed quality. The availability of local seedlings often poses constraints on quality and sustainability. This research aims to determine the optimal cultivation method for Gracilaria verrucosa using seeds from multiple locations. Seedlings of G. verrucosa were sourced from Semarang (S), Brebes (B), and Demak (D). Observations were conducted by cultivating the three seedlings using the off-bottom (O), broadcast (B), and longline (L) methods. A completely randomised design with a combination of seedling origin and cultivation method (3x3), namely SO, SB, SL, BO, BB, BL, and DO, DB, DL, was conducted in Brebes Regency, Central Java. The highest growth rate of G. verrucosa was observed in SL (3.21±0.07 % day-1), while the lowest was observed in BB and DB. The broadcast cultivation method was shown to increase agar content across all seed sources, but this increase did not always correlate with gel strength. SB seedlings showed the best combination with high agar content (34.33±0.58%) and strong gel strength (294.7±6.05 g.cm?²), while SO produced the highest gel strength (324.7±5.21 g.cm?²) despite having lower agar content (26.65±0.80%). Integrating selective seed sources and optimised cultivation methods is crucial for enhancing growth, ensuring hydrocolloid quality, and achieving sustainable production of G. verrucosa.
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