Kappaphycus
| Kappaphycus | |
|---|---|
| File:Kappaphycus alvarezii.jpg | |
| Kappaphycus alvarezii | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Gigartinales |
| Family: | Solieriaceae |
| Genus: | Kappaphycus Doty |
| Species | |
|
about 6, see text | |
Kappaphycus is a genus of red algae. Species are distributed in the waters of East Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, China (Hainan Island), the Philippines, and Micronesia.[1]
Description
[edit | edit source]The genus Kappaphycus is "morphologically plastic",[2] with few visible characters that can be used to separate the taxa, so distinguishing the species can be difficult. In addition, many commercial varieties have been bred. Molecular analyses can be used.[2][3][4]
In general, these algae have fleshy thalli that grow erect from one or more anchors. The longest individuals can exceed a meter in length.
Uses
[edit | edit source]All species produce kappa-carrageenan.[1] Farming of this is a large business in the Philippines. Gavino Trono is a Filipino biologist dubbed the “Father of Kappaphycus farming”.[5]
Kappaphycus alvarezii is widely cultivated as a raw source of carrageenan, and other species are used, as well. Several Kappaphycus are invasive species.[6]
Species
[edit | edit source]The following species are recognised in the genus cc:[1]
- Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex P.C.Silva, 1996
- Kappaphycus cottonii (Weber Bosse) Doty ex P.C.Silva, 1996
- Kappaphycus inermis (F.Schmitz) Doty ex H.D.Nguyen & Q.N.Huynh, 1995
- Kappaphycus malesianus J.Tan, P.E.Lim & S.M.Phang, 2013
- Kappaphycus procrusteanus (Kraft) Doty, 1988
- Kappaphycus striatus (F.Schmitz) Doty ex P.C.Silva, 1996
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c Guiry, M. D. In: Guiry, M. D. & G. M. Guiry. 2013. Kappaphycus. AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. Accessed 26 October 2025.
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Zuccarello, G. C., et al. (2006). Systematics and genetic variation in commercial Kappaphycus and Eucheuma (Solieriaceae, Rhodophyta). Archived 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine Journal of Applied Phycology 18(3-5) 643-51.
- ^ Tan, J., et al. (2012). Assessment of four molecular markers as potential DNA barcodes for red algae Kappaphycus Doty and Eucheuma J. Agardh (Solieriaceae, Rhodophyta). PLoS ONE, 7(12), e52905.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Conklin, E. J. and J. E. Smith. (2005). Abundance and spread of the invasive red algae, Kappaphycus spp., in Kane'ohe Bay, Hawai'i and an experimental assessment of management options. Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Biological Invasions 7(6), 1029-39.
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