Page 285 - Algae Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology

268 Algae: Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology

FIGURE 7.10 Frond of Enteromorpha sp.

growing season allows about three to four harvests. The harvested macroalga is washed well in
seawater and freshwater. It can then either be processed into sheets and dried, for sale in shops,
or dried, either outside or in dryers, and then boiled with sugar, soy sauce, and other ingredients
to make “nori-jam.”
Enteromorpha prolifera and Enteromorpha intestinalis are found in bays and river mouths
around Japan, and are also found in many other parts of the world, including Europe, North
America, and Hawaii. Fronds usually flat, narrow, and bright green in color can be seen waving
gently with water movement. They can be attached to firm substrate in clear, shallow waters,
and also occur as epiphyte on cultured red seaweeds such as Kappaphycus, Eucheuma, Gracilaria,
Gelidiella, and others.
It can thrive in both salt and brackish waters and is usually found at the top of the sublittoral
zone. It contains about 20% protein, little fat, low sodium, and high iron and calcium. Its
vitamin B-group content is generally higher than most vegetables, and while its vitamin A is
high, it is only half of that found in spinach. Its life history involves an alternation of generations
with the same appearance of long, tubular filaments. As for Monostroma, rope nets are seeded with
spores by submerging them in areas where Enteromorpha is growing naturally.
In the Republic of Korea, seed collection is from June to August and the strings or ropes are
taken to culture sites in September; in Japan, seeding is done in September, and by early November
young plants are visible. The nets are placed in calm bays or estuaries using either fixed poles in
shallow waters or floating rafts in deeper waters. Harvesting can be done two to three times
during the growing period, either by hand picking from the nets or by machine. Harvested
fronds are washed in freshwater and dried in large trays.
Ulva sp. (see Chapter 1, Figure 1.22) is known as sea lettuce, as fronds may be convoluted and
have an appearance rather like lettuce. It can be collected from the wild and added to Monostroma
and Enteromorpha as part of aonori. It has a higher protein content than the other two, but much
lower vitamin content, except for niacin, which is double that of Enteromorpha. Bright green in
color, it has a double or multiple cell layer. Slender at the holdfast and growing wider toward
the apex, it reproduces seasonally, usually during tropical dry season or temperate spring. It is