Abstract
The alga Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt, a member of the Phaeophyceae, exhibits a growth cycle at Bembridge, Isle of Wight (UK), in which large annual fronds develop from much smaller perennating structures. Seasonal changes between April 1977 and June 1978 in the chemical composition of the alga were recorded. The content of inorganic ions, alginate and the dry weight: fresh weight ratio were relatively constant. Mannitol, laminaran and polyphenolic compounds were at their maxima in early summer (June/July), when the plant was undergoing rapid extension growth. In contrast, the protein content was highest in winter and early spring. It was concluded that the elongation phase which occurred in the spring was not supported by the use of stored polysaccharide reserves, since the amounts present were insufficient for this purpose and increased during the period of most rapid growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Abdel-Fattah, A. F., M. M.-E. Hussain and H. M. Salem: Sargassan: a sulphated heteropolysaccharide from Sargassum linifolium. Phytochem. 12, 1995–1998 (1973)
Black, W. A. P.: The seasonal variation in chemical constitution of some of the sub-littoral seaweeds common to Scotland. Part 1. Laminaria cloustoni. J. Soc. chem. Ind., Lond. 67, 165–168 (1948a)
Black, W. A. P.: The seasonal variation in chemical constitution of some of the sub-littoral seaweeds common to Scotland. Part II. Laminaria digitata. J. Soc. chem. Ind., Lond. 67, 169–172 (1948b)
Black, W. A. P.: The seasonal variation in chemical constitution of some of the sub-littoral seaweeds common to Scotland. Part III. Laminaria saccharina and Sacchoriza bulbosa. J. Soc. chem. Ind., Lond. 67, 172–176 (1948c)
Cameron, M. C., A. G. Ross and E. G. V. Percival: Methods for the routine estimation of mannitol, alginic acid and combined fucose in seaweeds. J. Soc. chem. Ind., Lond. 67, 161–164 (1948)
Chapman, A. R. O. and J. S. Craigie: Seasonal growth in Laminaria longicruris: relations with reserve carbohydrate storage and production. Mar. Biol. 46, 209–213 (1978)
Combaut, G., L. Codomier and J. Teste: Seasonal chemical evolution of the alga Cystoseira elegans. Phytochem. 20, 2036–2037 (1981)
Daly, E. L. jr. and J. S. Prince: The ecology of Sargassum pteropleuron Grunow (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) in the waters off South Florida. III. Seasonal variation in alginic acid concentration. Phycologia 20, 352–357 (1981)
Farnham, W. F., R. L. Fletcher and L. M. Irvine: Attached Sargassum found in Britain. Nature, Lond. 243, 231–232 (1973)
Farnham, W. F. and E. B. G. Jones: The eradication of the sea-weed Sargassum muticum from Britain. Biol. Conserv. 6, 57–58 (1974)
Glombitza, K.-W., M. Forster und G. Eckhardt: Polyhydroxyäther aus der Phaeophycee Sargassum muticum. Phytochem. 17, 579–580 (1978)
Gruet, Y.: Presence de l'algue japonaise Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt sur la côte française de Normandie. Bull. Soc. Sci. nat. Ouest Fr. 74, 101–104 (1976)
Hatcher, B. G., A. R. O. Chapman and K. H. Mann: An annual carbon budget for the kelp Laminaria longicruris. Mar. Biol. 44, 85–96 (1977)
Jensen, J. B.: Morphological studies in the Cystoseiraceae and Sargassaceae (Phaeophyceae) with special reference to apical organisation. Univ. Calif. Publs Bot. 68, 1–61 (1974)
Jones, R. F.: On the chemical composition of the brown alga Himanthalia elongata (L.) S. F. Gray. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 110, 169–178 (1956)
Kane, D. F. and A. H. L. Chamberlain: Laboratory growth studies on Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt. I. Seasonal growth of whole plants and lateral sections. Botanica mar. 22, 1–9 (1979)
Kuppers, U. and M. Weidner: Seasonal variation in enzyme activities in Laminaria hyperborea. Planta 148, 222–230 (1980)
Lewey, S. A. and W. F. Farnham: Observations on Sargassum muticum in Britain. Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 8 (Bangor, 1974), 388–394 (1981). (Ed. by G. E. Fogg and W. E. Jones. Menai Bridge, N. Wales: The Marine Science Laboratory)
Mian, A. J. and E. Percival: Carbohydrates of the brown seaweeds Himanthalia lorea, Bifurcaria bifurcata and Padina pavonia. Carbohydrate Res. (Amsterdam) 26, 133–146 (1973)
Moore, S. and W. H. Stein: A modified ninhydrin reagent for the photometric determination of amino acids and related compounds. J. biol. Chem. 211, 907–913 (1954)
Ragan, M. A. and A. Jensen: Quantitative studies on brown algal phenols. I. Estimation of absolute polyphenol content of Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. and Fucus vesiculosus L. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 30, 209–221 (1977)
Ragan, M. A. and A. Jensen: Quantitative studies on brown algal phenols. II. Seasonal variation in polyphenol content of Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. and Fucus vesiculosus L. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 34, 245–258 (1978)
Whyte, J. N. C. and J. R. Englar: Seasonal variation in the inorganic constituents of the marine alga Nereocystis luetkeana. Part I. Metallic elements. Botanica mar. 23, 13–17 (1980)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gorham, J., Lewey, S.A. Seasonal changes in the chemical composition of Sargassum muticum . Marine Biology 80, 103–107 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393133
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393133