Monostroma kuroshiense

Monostroma kuroshiense, a green alga in the division Chlorophyta, is a green seaweed endemic to Kuroshio Coast of Japan. This high-value seaweed is called Hitoegusa or Hirohano hitoegusa (ヒロハノヒトエグサ) in Japanese. Previously this algae was known in binomen Monostroma latissimum, but the latest scientific research based on multilocal phylogeny discovered that this is a new species.[1] The algae is named after Kuroshio Current, naming is done by phycologist Felix Bast This algae is commercially cultivated in East Asia and South America for the edible product "hitoegusa-nori" or "hirohano-hitoegusa nori", popular sushi wraps. Monostroma oligosaccharides with degree of polymerization 6 prepared by agarase digestion from Monostroma nitidum polysaccharides have been shown to be an effective prophylactic agent during in vitro and in vivo tests against Japanese encephalitis viral infection. The sulfated oligosaccharides from Monostroma seem to be promising candidates for further development as antiviral agents.[2] The genus Monostroma is the most widely cultivated genus among green seaweeds.

Monostroma kuroshiense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Ulvophyceae
Order: Ulotrichales
Family: Monostromataceae
Genus: Monostroma
Species:
M. kuroshiense
Binomial name
Monostroma kuroshiense
F.Bast, 2015

Description

Distribution

The distribution endemic to Japanese Kuroshio Coast.

Ecology

It is found in intertidal rocks of saline and estuarine environments with various seawater salinities (35 to 24 PSU).

Life history

A number of peer-reviewed scientific literature exists on the ecophysiology of this algal genus.[3] Natural and cultivated sexually reproducing environmental samples, as well as sexually reproducing and serendipitously discovered asexually reproducing ecotypes of monostromatic green alga from Tosa Bay, Japan are conspecific (belong to the same species).[4] Patterns of seasonal fluctuations in its thallus lengths were habitat specific and recur annually.[5] Both appearance and decay of thalli were earlier at high saline habitats, suggesting that salinity positively influences either maturation of sporophytes or senescence of gametophytes. Results from life cycle, thallus ontogeny, gametangial ontogeny and phylogenetic analyses suggest that this algal genus is evolutionarily affiliated in order ulotrichales.[6] Type of life cycle is not a valid diagnostic character for the species circumscription in Monostromataceae.[7]

Uses

This is an edible green algae extensively used as nori in sushi.

References
  1. Bast, Felix (2015). "Taxonomic reappraisal of Monostromataceae (Ulvophyceae: Chlorophyta) based on multi-locus phylogeny". Webbia. 70: 1–15. doi:10.1080/00837792.2015.1004845. S2CID 84264399.
  2. Kazłowski B, Chiu YH, Kazłowska K, Pan CL, Wu CJ (August 2012). "Prevention of Japanese encephalitis virus infections by low-degree-polymerisation sulfated saccharides from Gracilaria sp. and Monostroma nitidum". Food Chem. 133 (3): 866–74. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.01.106.
  3. Bast, F. 2011. Monostroma: the Jeweled Seaweed for Future. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing GmbH & Co. KG, 66121 Saarbrücken, Germany:
  4. Bast, Felix; Shimada, Satoshi; Hiraoka, Masanori; Okuda, Kazuo (2009). "Asexual life history by biflagellate zoids in Monostroma latissimum (Ulotrichales)". Aquatic Botany. 91 (3): 213–218. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.06.006.
  5. Bast, Felix; Shimada, Satoshi; Hiraoka, Masanori; Okuda, Kazuo (2009). "Seasonality and thallus ontogeny of edible seaweed Monostroma latissimum (Kützing) Wittrock (Chlorophyta, Monostromataceae) from Tosa Bay, Kochi, Japan". Hydrobiologia. 630 (1): 161–167. doi:10.1007/s10750-009-9789-6. S2CID 35307341.
  6. Bast, F. (2010). Comparative Ecophysiology and Phylogeography of Monostroma in Southern Japan. Ph.D., Kochi University, Japan.
  7. Bast, F. 2011. Monostroma: the Jeweled Seaweed for Future. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing GmbH & Co. KG, 66121 Saarbrücken, Germany:

Further reading
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