different evolutionary lines, and many problems remain unresolvable with the
understanding hitherto gained from land-based plant life (Mazarrasa et al. 2013).
Biotechnology, a field where outstanding recent advancements have been
achieved in the area of microorganisms, has produced many new findings as its
scope has broadened from animals to higher-order plants. In manufacturing, tissue
culturing of seaweeds was attempted in the early 1950s. Initially, alcohol or sodium
hypochlorite solution was used in various attempts to obtain aseptic tissue, but the
results were not spectacular. The later emergence of antibiotic substances and
technical improvements led in the 1980s to developments through prolific
cutting-edge biotechnology research in countries such as Japan, the United States,
and China (Wheeler et al. 1979; Tseng 2001).
The field of seaweed biotechnology includes a number of different areas,
including tissue culture, callus induction, protoplast production and regeneration,
cell fusion, and gene manipulation. At the same time, a number of issues remain to
be solved, including the failure to achieve full consistency in terminology. Nevertheless, the technology is very important in opening up new possibilities for the
use of seaweed not only as a food resource but also for mass-production of useful
substances or for bioactive substances and biotechnological resources, and greater
development is expected for the field going ahead.
South Korea has a long history of using seaweeds such as laver (Porphyra
suborbiculata), sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), kelp (Laminaria japonica),
green laver (Enteromorpha spp.), gulf weed (Sargassum fusiforme), and fusiforme
(Hizika fusiformis) for food, and these varieties have been the subject of active
farming efforts. In Europe, seaweeds have long been used for fertilizer and as a
source of iodine and soda ash for glass-making (Kim et al. 2000).
In addition to their use for food, seaweeds today are used around the world as
source algae for the extraction of useful substances such as agar, alginic acid, and
carrageenan. In the case of agar, red algae such as agar-agar and kkosiraegi
(Gracilariaceae) are used as chief sources. Alginic acid and carrageenan are widely
used in the food processing and cosmetics industries as fixatives and viscosity
agents and for enzymes. Brown algae such sea tangle (Laminariaceae) and giant
kelp, rhubard (Eisenia bicyclis), and gamtae (Ecklonia cava) are used for alginic
acid, while red algae such as Gloiopeltis tenax, Chondrus ocellatus, Gracilaria
verrucosa,, Chondracanthus tenellus and Gigartinales are used as sources for
carrageenan. Seaweeds are also very important as food for useful marine creatures
such as turban shells, sea urchins, and abalone.
6.2 Mass Production of Seaweeds
The seaweeds used for the purposes described above were initially collected from
the sea, where they grew naturally. Farming techniques gradually developed to
provide stable mass production to meet rising demand. Representative cases in
South Korea include the farming of laver, sea mustard, and kelp. Farming of these
food seaweeds also takes place today in China and Japan. Laver farming has been
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6 Seaweed Biotechnology
understanding hitherto gained from land-based plant life (Mazarrasa et al. 2013).
Biotechnology, a field where outstanding recent advancements have been
achieved in the area of microorganisms, has produced many new findings as its
scope has broadened from animals to higher-order plants. In manufacturing, tissue
culturing of seaweeds was attempted in the early 1950s. Initially, alcohol or sodium
hypochlorite solution was used in various attempts to obtain aseptic tissue, but the
results were not spectacular. The later emergence of antibiotic substances and
technical improvements led in the 1980s to developments through prolific
cutting-edge biotechnology research in countries such as Japan, the United States,
and China (Wheeler et al. 1979; Tseng 2001).
The field of seaweed biotechnology includes a number of different areas,
including tissue culture, callus induction, protoplast production and regeneration,
cell fusion, and gene manipulation. At the same time, a number of issues remain to
be solved, including the failure to achieve full consistency in terminology. Nevertheless, the technology is very important in opening up new possibilities for the
use of seaweed not only as a food resource but also for mass-production of useful
substances or for bioactive substances and biotechnological resources, and greater
development is expected for the field going ahead.
South Korea has a long history of using seaweeds such as laver (Porphyra
suborbiculata), sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), kelp (Laminaria japonica),
green laver (Enteromorpha spp.), gulf weed (Sargassum fusiforme), and fusiforme
(Hizika fusiformis) for food, and these varieties have been the subject of active
farming efforts. In Europe, seaweeds have long been used for fertilizer and as a
source of iodine and soda ash for glass-making (Kim et al. 2000).
In addition to their use for food, seaweeds today are used around the world as
source algae for the extraction of useful substances such as agar, alginic acid, and
carrageenan. In the case of agar, red algae such as agar-agar and kkosiraegi
(Gracilariaceae) are used as chief sources. Alginic acid and carrageenan are widely
used in the food processing and cosmetics industries as fixatives and viscosity
agents and for enzymes. Brown algae such sea tangle (Laminariaceae) and giant
kelp, rhubard (Eisenia bicyclis), and gamtae (Ecklonia cava) are used for alginic
acid, while red algae such as Gloiopeltis tenax, Chondrus ocellatus, Gracilaria
verrucosa,, Chondracanthus tenellus and Gigartinales are used as sources for
carrageenan. Seaweeds are also very important as food for useful marine creatures
such as turban shells, sea urchins, and abalone.
6.2 Mass Production of Seaweeds
The seaweeds used for the purposes described above were initially collected from
the sea, where they grew naturally. Farming techniques gradually developed to
provide stable mass production to meet rising demand. Representative cases in
South Korea include the farming of laver, sea mustard, and kelp. Farming of these
food seaweeds also takes place today in China and Japan. Laver farming has been
146
6 Seaweed Biotechnology