| Abstract |
Gracilaria is a red alga notable for its economic importance as a major source of agar world-wide. Considering its importance and the very limited data available in the locality, this study was conducted to determine the abundance, standing stock, nutritional composition, agar yield and some of the agar properties of G. salicornia along the coast of Iligan Bay. Using the transect-quadrat method, the abundance and biomass was determined in the intertidal flat of Barangay Minaulon, Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, while the analysis of nutritional composition and agar extraction was done using the standard methods. Results showed that the cover value of G. salicornia was 67.53脙聜脗卤51.43% and its mean biomass was 218.35脙聜脗卤74.20 g/m2. The nutritional composition represented by protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash and moisture content was within the values specified for seaweeds. The agar yield was 2.18脙聜脗卤0.22% and the average gel strength was 70.87脙聜脗卤14.07 g cm-2. It was concluded that the wild populations of G. salicornia in Iligan Bay were high based on its cover and standing stock, hence sustainable for commercial exploitation for agar production. Lastly, its nutritional composition was in considerable quantities and within the values specified for seaweeds. |
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology