Division Pattern and Evaluation of Technical Performance of Bio-volume Measurements of Divided and Un-divided Cells in Ulva ohnoi for Determining Growth

Abstract

The commercial interest in Ulva has emanated due to its emerging applications in functional foods, bioactive ingredients, salt and polysaccharide ulvan. The growth is important trait for aquaculture and conventionally measured in terms of difference in weight in geometric progression. Cell division is fundamental, and cell bio-volume is precise, non-cumbersome and cost-effective method for determining growth, but seldom attempted in seaweeds. The percentage of divided cells ranged from 59.8 ± 8.9 to 60.4 ± 3.4 % and un-divided cells from 40.1 ± 9 to 40.8 ± 3.4 %. The bio-volume of un-divided cells ranged from 4896.1 ± 393.9 µm² to 6965.2 ± 1806.09 µm²; while divided ranged from 3504.2 ± 470.03 µm² to 4952.3 ± 759.2 µm²; it was statistically different in day 0, day 3 and day 6.