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| Authority: J. Agardh |
Type species: Eucheuma denticulatum (N.L. Burman) F.S.Collins & Hervey |
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| Commercial species: cartilaginium (CAR), denticulatum (DEN), isiforme (ISI), muricatum (MUR) |
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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, Crude agar, East-Indian Carrageen, Eucheuma, Eucheuman, Java agar, Kirinsai, Makassar weed, Ruwe agar, Ryukyu-tsunomata, Singapore weed, Spinosum, Tosaka nori, Zanzibar weed |
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| Classification: Eukaryota, Phylum Rhodophyta, Class Rhodophyceae, Subclass Florideophycidae, Order Gigartinales, Family Areschougiaceae. |
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| AlgaeBase names and species: 45 names - 19 current as of 12-2001. |
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| For a thorough treatment see DiveBorneo 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
Approximate annual production figures from recent years are as above. |
Biology & Agronomy
Commercial spinosum production is currently on the order of 25-30,000 dry tons per year at the commercial standard of 38% moisture-content.
Although some spinosum is consumed directly as human food most material is used as a source of the commercially valuable marine biopolymer (red algal galactan) called carrageenan.
Spinosum 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) and in Caribbean countries. Local cultivars have entered commercial production in several places but there has also been transplantation both within and between countries (e.g. Philippine stocks to Indonesia and vice versa). |
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. |
Processing
We have several monographs in progress covering analytical procedures, post-harvest treatment and semi-refining technology for Eucheuma and similar seaweeds. Check the processing index for available web pages and monographs. |
Products, Uses & Applications
Most Eucheuma 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. |
| List of species' uses and community affiliations |
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| Genus |
GenID |
SpID |
Species |
Uses |
Communities |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
ALV |
alvarezii |
FH, FI, IA, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
CAR |
cartilagineum |
FH, FI, IA, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
DEN |
denticulatum |
FH, FI, IA, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
DEN |
denticulatum |
FH, FI, IA, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
GEL |
gelatinae |
FH, FI, IA, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
ISI |
isiforme |
FH, FI, IA, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
MUR |
muricatum |
FH, FI, IA, PA, PC, WB |
BP, FM, SV, WB |
| Eucheuma |
EU |
STR |
striatum |
FH, FI, IA, 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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| Eucheuma is most strongly associated with the Biopolymer, Seaweed, Seavegetables and Wellbeing communities. |
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