Acronym Aqua-Weed
Category
Aquaculture
Title Diversity of microorganisms in both natural and aquaculture tropical seaweed systems: biotechnology potential for sustainable development Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National Coordinator Astrid Gärdes Coordinator email astrid.gaerdes@zmt-bremen.de
Coordinator institution
ZMT - Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (Germany)
Institutions involved
NA - Institute of Marine Biochemistry (Vietnam) ,
NA - Institute of Natural Products Chemistry (Vietnam) ,
NITRA - Nhatrang Institute of Technology Research and Application (Vietnam) ,
Start year 2016 End year 2019 Funding (€) € 197,000 Website https://www.leibniz-zmt.de/en/research/research-projects/aqua-weed.html Summary Seaweed farming based primarily on the culture of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma species has grown significantly in the Philippines and Indonesia over the last two decades, with growth also taking place at a smaller scale in Tanzania, India and a few other developing countries. Vietnam hast the potential and the capacities (coastal areas) to farm seaweed, which has enormous potential for the economy and livelihoods. Unlike other forms of aquaculture, seaweed farming foregoes the use of feed and fertilizers and has minimum technological and capital requirements. In addition, grow out cycles are short, normally lasting less than two
months. Given these unique characteristics, seaweed farming has generated substantial socio-economic benefits to marginalized coastal communities in developing countries, most
of which have reduced access to alternative economic activities. In some communities, seaweed farming has emerged as the most relevant livelihood strategy.
Like other eukaryotic organisms, seaweeds harbor a rich diversity of associated microorganisms with functions related to host health and defense. In particular, epiphytic
bacterial communities have been reported as essential for normal morphological development of the algal host, and bacteria with antifouling properties are thought to protect
chemically undefended macroalgae from detrimental, secondary colonization by other microscopic and macroscopic epibiota. This tight relationship suggests that seaweed and
epiphytic bacteria interact as a unified functional entity or holobiont, analogous to the previously suggested relationship in corals. Moreover, given that the impact of diseases in
marine ecosystems is apparently increasing, understanding the role of bacteria as saprophytes and pathogens in seaweed communities may have important implications for
marine management strategies. Seaweed functioning in both ecological and industrial settings cannot be understood without considering interactions with their associated
microbiome. There is a great need for substantial laboratory-, and molecular based data to understand health, performance and resilience of seaweed, which are functionally regulated
and assisted in part by epiphytic bacteria. Therefore, detailed assessment of the seaweed microbiome is necessary in order to develop sustainable practice for culturing seaweed.
Essential epiphytes will be identified to ensure the economically valuable production of seaweed and the potential biotechnological use.
1. Investigation of the microbial community composition and functionality in both natural and aquaculture tropical seaweed systems, to identify potential strains with biotechnological applications.
2. Identify probiotic and pathogenic bacteria for sustainable management of seaweed aquaculture.
3. Isolation and testing of bioactive and biotechnological relevant microbial strains and its secondary metabolites.
4. Implementation of sustainable practice and management strategies to stakeholders.
Keywords
Genetic;
Microbial communities;
Biology;
Bioproduct;
Bioprospecting;
Bioactive compounds;
Microbiome;
Bacteria;
Marine Region
76
Not associated to marine areas
0
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