Preliminary studies of Eucheuma cottonii (Rhodophyta) from the Toliara Area, Madagascar

Abstract

Euchcuma cottollii is a species of red algae found 011 the littoral of the Toliara area (Madagascar). It occupies alarge area in the north of the Great Reef of Toliara facing the village of Amboaboaka. An ecological study and anevaluation of economic potential were made. The preliminary study of the phycocolloid of this species shows thatit has carrageenan yield of 50% and that its gel strength reaches 226 g cm-2. Seaweeds have long been used as soil fertilizers, as feed, in the human diet (Delepine, 19X9) and for production of phycocolloids. Mc Hugh ( 1993) estimated the world production of Euchcul1la (Rhodophyta) for the extraction of carrageenans to be about 66 000 tons per ycar.In Madagascar Gelidium madagascariense is extensively exploited (Andriamampandry (1976),and in 1986 the Society "Le Martin Pecheur", based in Fort Dauphin, exported 300 tons of G. madagascariense.