Progress 09/15/01 to 09/14/04
Outputs
Growout techniques for Gracilaria parvispora (in Hawaii known as ogo) were investigated for drainage ditches of shrimp farmers on Molokai. These waters are nutrient rich and were found to result in relatively slower growth rates than traditional land based and cage culture techniques. The lower than expected production in these nutrient rich waters was both unexpected and clearly not understood. Ongoing research in collaboration with the University of Arizona has indicated that water motion plays a more important role in the overall growth of ogo but also requires that a nitrogen source be present. However, the amount of nitrogen that is provided by the effluent from shrimp ponds may be too high for optimal growth of ogo. Apparently Gracilaria parvispora will not do well as a nutrient scrubber for treating shrimp farm effluent. Investigations were also conducted on another species of Gracilaria, G. salicornia, to increase diversity and create new markets. This
particular species is being investigated for agar production which were found to be 30% of the dry mass of the harvested seaweed. In addition, preliminary experiments indicate that this species may be more suitable for use with the shrimp farm effluent.
Impacts
1) If successful, this project will provide information on organic nutrient sources and best management practices for the culture of two native Hawaiian seaweed species. This project will provide culture techniques to address the demand for 'organic' cultured seaweeds, a high value, high demand crop for the Hawaii market. 2) If successful, this project will insert into algal plastids the complete mevalonate pathway. The end result would be to increase production of the desirable carotenoids, such as astaxanthin, thus reducing the cost of production of this high value nutraceutical.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
1) Funded a project, entitled, 'Development of new organic culture techniques for native Hawaiian seaweeds.' A small amount of Gracilaria coronoapifoli has been cultured and expanded culture of this seaweed will be done as experimental runs are completed. 2) Funded a project, entitled, 'Enabling high output carotenogenesis in microalgae.' This project's objectives are to develop a transformation protocol for the blue-green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and to construct transformation vectors for these species.
Impacts
1) If successful, this project will provide information on organic nutrient sources and best management practices for the culture of two native Hawaiian seaweed species. This project will provide culture techniques to address the demand for 'organic' cultured seaweeds, a high value, high demand crop for the Hawaii market. 2) If successful, this project will insert into algal plastids the complete mevalonate pathway. The end result would be to increase production of the desirable carotenoids, such as astaxanthin, thus reducing the cost of production of this high value nutraceutical.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
Five projects were selected following a request for proposals. Once funding is released the research will be conducted to developed new products from Hawaii's plant aquaculture industry. The projects selected for funding were: - Optimization of intrinsic factors affecting market value of Spirulina. - The production of an optimized abalone feed from macroalgae. - Development of a water chestnut aquaculture system for Hawaii - Expanding Hawaii's ogo industry through polyculture and new market development. - Enabling high output carotenogenesis by microalgae.
Impacts
Hawaii's aquaculture industry is growing. According to the Hawaii Agriculture Statistics Service (2002), the Aquaculture industry is a $22.2 million industry for producer sales alone. Plant aquaculture, such as algae, ogo, and other products show great potential for value added products. The algae industry has shown consistent growth through 2001. This research will enable these industries to sustain this economic growth while developing new products.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01
Outputs
This project has just been initiated. Progress will be reported next year.
Impacts
Products derived from aquaculture will be developed.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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