Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment
Process of production of seedlings in agarose yielding red seaweed Gracilaria dura for commercial exploitation
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed
Gracilaria dura is used as principal raw material source of agarose. The cost-effective, green processing by surfactant-induced, coagulation of agarose from alkali-treated G. dura was patented by CSMCRI as an alternative to the traditional energy-intensive process of “freeze–thaw” cycles. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India has also obtained a trade mark for the agarose produced from G. dura (Sagarose: Number 2123313 dt. 30.03.2011, New Delhi, India). The experimental cultivation of Gracilaria dura employing net, pouch, bottom-net bag, hanging rope and raft technique, along the south-eastern coast of India, as well as using a raft method along Gujarat coast was attempted. The biomass availability of this species is poor and scanty distribution and seasonal occurrence hinders utilisation of this alga for industrial production of agarose. The seedling production technology that has been developed would cater need of commercial farming of this species in the country.
Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
The technology has taken care of higher regeneration, survival and growth efficacy of non-apical and non-basal segments. It has demonstrated the use of minimum thallus tissue for utilization of maximum thallus tissue, to increase the number of seedlings per donor tissue. The weight to volume ratio has been standardized to achieve maximum survival and regeneration under controlled laboratory conditions. The various pre-treatments have been developed to get maximum survival and regeneration under controlled laboratory conditions. Besides, outdoor cultivation protocol has been established. The farming of this species has been adopted in the open sea along the Gujarat coast. The capacity building of 163 fishermen has been accomplished by providing hands on training, under National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad sponsored project. The buy-back agreement has been made with our agar-agarose producing industries. The adequate supply of seed material would certainly have bearing in augmenting the efforts to support farmers those are engaged in commercial cultivation of this species to make the livelihood lucrative and sustainable.
TRL Level & Scale of Development:
Lab scale production @ 10,000 seedling in a batch has been achieved
Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):
Since monsoon period seriously hampers the field cultivation, therefore this is the only method to supply the quality seedling material to seaweed growers. Scale and cost will vary depending on requirement of seedling material.
Environmental Considerations:
The method follows non-polluting practices, does not require any harmful chemicals etc. sometime use hormones and natural growth stimulant treatment. Since G. dura is indigenous, therefore depending on feasibility of its cultivation, technology can be deployed in any of the Indian maritime states.
Status of Licensing:
Not yet licensedStatus of Commercialization:
Not yet licensedMajor Raw Materials Needed
G. dura stock, seaweed tissue culture laboratory, seawater, tanks, shade and small farm to maintained adequate stock and acclimatized the newly generated seedling propagules.
Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required
Requires seaweed tissue culture laboratory kind of set up and seedling nursery kind of arrangements
Techno-Economics
Starting with 2.5 Kg biomass, 1 ton seedling material can be produced in 180-200 days
Technology Package
Know-how for seedling generation and subsequent demonstration of cultivation for one cycle; Seedling material; License fee and other financial details would be provided on request.
