8
in particular the cellulose biosynthesis and trafficking in seaweeds is most essential.
The genome sequence of a few seaweeds though revealed the existence of land plant
orthologs for cellulose biosynthesis (Cock et al. 2010; Collen et al. 2013a, b; Ye
et al. 2015), but their functions are not yet explained.
1.4 Elite Variety Development
Macroalgae (seaweeds) represent the second largest aquaculture production with 27
million tonnes fresh weight (FAO 2014). Also, the market for marine macroalgal
products is steadily growing at 9% per annum (FAO 2014). Further, research is
continued on the development of newer low-volume high-value products for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications (Hafting et al. 2015). The volumetric
growth of existing commodity products industry in the last one decade and also by
newly developed sectors has shown the overwhelming demand for seaweed biomass. Though 94% of seaweed biomass is generated through cultivation, the genetic
resource improvement strategies are barely tapped (Loureiro et al. 2015). Thus it is
impractical to sustain the market demand for seaweed biomass without developing
elite varieties with improved traits along with developing more efficient and economic cultivation and harvesting technologies. Serial subculturing of a seaweed
germplasm, as conventionally performed, results into loss of vigour, decline in production and susceptibility to multifaceted diseases and pests (Barrento et al. 2016).
There are growing evidences of loss in productivity and multifaceted diseases on
major commercial crops of Kappaphycus, Pyropia and Saccharina which were
grown after multiple inbreeding and/or serial subculturing (Robinson et al. 2013;
Loureiro et al. 2015; Barrento et al. 2016). The huge research efforts implied for
sustainability of agriculture, livestock and aquaculture remained underutilized in
seaweeds (Barrento et al. 2016). Developing molecular markers for functional trait
analysis followed by marker-assisted breeding and selection technologies is needed
for the time.
1.5 Seaweed Genetic Resource for Translational Research
Seaweeds are habitants of a dynamic environment experience highly fluctuating
abiotic and biotic conditions. Thus, seaweeds could be a genetic resource for understanding and translating the adaptations for such variable environments. The investigated genetic regulations may then be translated to agriculture crops for improving
their tolerance to some abiotic stresses. For example, Kishimoto et al. (2013) transformed rice with an animal type-Na
+
− ATPase gene from a marine red seaweed,
Porphyra yezoensis, which conferred salinity tolerance in rice. Similarly, gaseous
V. Gupta et al.
in particular the cellulose biosynthesis and trafficking in seaweeds is most essential.
The genome sequence of a few seaweeds though revealed the existence of land plant
orthologs for cellulose biosynthesis (Cock et al. 2010; Collen et al. 2013a, b; Ye
et al. 2015), but their functions are not yet explained.
1.4 Elite Variety Development
Macroalgae (seaweeds) represent the second largest aquaculture production with 27
million tonnes fresh weight (FAO 2014). Also, the market for marine macroalgal
products is steadily growing at 9% per annum (FAO 2014). Further, research is
continued on the development of newer low-volume high-value products for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications (Hafting et al. 2015). The volumetric
growth of existing commodity products industry in the last one decade and also by
newly developed sectors has shown the overwhelming demand for seaweed biomass. Though 94% of seaweed biomass is generated through cultivation, the genetic
resource improvement strategies are barely tapped (Loureiro et al. 2015). Thus it is
impractical to sustain the market demand for seaweed biomass without developing
elite varieties with improved traits along with developing more efficient and economic cultivation and harvesting technologies. Serial subculturing of a seaweed
germplasm, as conventionally performed, results into loss of vigour, decline in production and susceptibility to multifaceted diseases and pests (Barrento et al. 2016).
There are growing evidences of loss in productivity and multifaceted diseases on
major commercial crops of Kappaphycus, Pyropia and Saccharina which were
grown after multiple inbreeding and/or serial subculturing (Robinson et al. 2013;
Loureiro et al. 2015; Barrento et al. 2016). The huge research efforts implied for
sustainability of agriculture, livestock and aquaculture remained underutilized in
seaweeds (Barrento et al. 2016). Developing molecular markers for functional trait
analysis followed by marker-assisted breeding and selection technologies is needed
for the time.
1.5 Seaweed Genetic Resource for Translational Research
Seaweeds are habitants of a dynamic environment experience highly fluctuating
abiotic and biotic conditions. Thus, seaweeds could be a genetic resource for understanding and translating the adaptations for such variable environments. The investigated genetic regulations may then be translated to agriculture crops for improving
their tolerance to some abiotic stresses. For example, Kishimoto et al. (2013) transformed rice with an animal type-Na
+
− ATPase gene from a marine red seaweed,
Porphyra yezoensis, which conferred salinity tolerance in rice. Similarly, gaseous
V. Gupta et al.