Beneficial algal species discovered

Two new bloom-forming algal species were discovered recently off the west coast of India. These two species have excellent carbon capture properties — ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce global warming — and are also promising candidates for use as bio fuels.

Currently, a number of research groups are working on using algae as a potential candidate for carbon sequestration because they grow at very high rates and can absorb atmospheric CO.

Both of the newly discovered species are endemic and bloom-forming.

As they are endemic, their cultivation is not going to cause any environmental harm; had it been a species of Atlantic or Mediterranean origin, it might overgrow local flora and might wreak havoc on the local habitats — the so-called bio invasion.

Bloom forming indicates spontaneous growth. There is no need for fertilizers/pesticides or any expensive cultivation systems such as photobioreactors for their cultivation. These can grow sporadically at shorelines and can sequester CO.

The algae species named Ulva paschima Bast, and Cladophora goensis Bast were discovered by Dr. Felix Bast and two research students working with him, Mr. Satej Bhushan and Mr. Aijaz Ahmad John, from the Central University of Punjab, Bhatinda. The findings were reported in the journals PLoS ONE and Indian Journal of Marine Sciences.

The main criteria used for determining these species as newly discovered is a mix of morphological as well as molecular characteristics. Molecular evidence is especially strong; as nearest match is less than 90 per cent sequence identity.

For example, Cladophora goensis Vs. Cladophora glomerata — its nearest match — is 17.7 per cent differences.

“Compare it with human Vs. chimp. Our sequence identity is 98 per cent and 2 per cent difference makes us what we are. These newly discovered algae have profound sequence differences from previously discovered algae. Morphology is not reliable; as algae can change its morphology to suit its environment. Ours is the first molecular study on Indian algae, and first algal species discovery for last 40 years,” notes Dr. Bast in an email to this correspondent.

Pharmaceutical products from algae are under the realms of another project by Dr. Bast.

A number of active substances are isolated from algae including some algae of genera Cladophora andUlva. Probably most famous is Kahalalide-F, which is now being used in clinical trials against prostate and breast cancers.

Kahalalide-F is isolated from Bryopsis — a closely related green algae to Cladophora as well as Ulvaand it is very probable that same or related chemical is present in newly discovered endemic algae.

He intends to work on this. Cladophora goensis and Ulva paschima — recently discovered species — have had no chemical/pharmaceutical studies conducted on them yet.