![]() ![]() They also show a triphasic life cycle, consisting of a gametophyte (n) ( dioecious), carposporophyte (2n), and the sporophyte (2n). Their growth is similar to terrestrial plant species, where Eucheuma have a growing tip, or apical meristem, which is also capable of dividing to form new growing branches. Habitat and biology Women collecting Eucheuma in Jambiani ( Zanzibar).Įucheuma are typically found below the low tide mark to the upper subtidal zone of a reef, growing on sand to rocky seafloor areas along a coral reef, where water movement is slow to moderate. Īs a commercial crop, Eucheuma has since been distributed to many regions away from their original natural habitats, including Japan, Hawaii, and island nations in the South Pacific. A few species are found on Lord Howe Island and in southwestern Australia. Distribution Eucheuma farming, TanzaniaĮucheuma are naturally found within the range of 20 degrees either side of the Equator in the Indo-Pacific region from eastern Africa to Guam, and are most concentrated in Southeast Asia. ![]() Gusô is listed in the Ark of Taste international catalogue of endangered heritage foods of the Philippines by the Slow Food movement. Some eighteen to twenty species alone fall within the genus Eucheuma, represented by the groups Cottoniformia, Gelatiformia, and Anaxiferae. Though commercially significant, species of Eucheuma are difficult to identify without the aid of close scientific examination, as different species may have similar morphologies. Ĭommercial seaweed farming of gusô (as well as Kappaphycus) was pioneered in the Philippines. Since the mid-1970s, Kappaphycus and Eucheuma have been a major source for the expansion of the carrageenan industry. Other species include Betaphycus gelatinae, Eucheuma denticulatum, and several species of the genus Kappaphycus, including K. Eucheuma cottonii – which grows in the Caribbean and cultivated in the Philippines – is the particular species known as gusô. Eucheuma species are used in the production of carrageenan, an ingredient for cosmetics, food processing, and industrial manufacturing, as well as a food source for people in the Philippines, Caribbean and parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Let us continue to protect our seas from pollution and illegal fishing so that we can enjoy these food sources from nature.Eucheuma, commonly known as sea moss or gusô ( / ɡ u ˈ s ɔː ʔ/), is a rhodophyte seaweed that may vary in color (purple, brown, and green). This food is rich in iodine, calcium, vitamins, and minerals. Guso, as salad, can be eaten raw or slightly boiled and mixed in vinegar or the native suka-tuba plus other spices. Guso is exported to other countries as a source of Carrageenan, a gelatin-like extract used as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer in food, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Its culture period usually takes 30-45 days. From small-scale farming, the industry has had enormous growth through the years and has expanded to neighboring coastal towns like Getafe with much success as this added to the income of fishermen.ĭepending on the location, the season for planting and harvesting seaweed varies, with some areas operating year-round, while others consider weather disturbances, diseases, water temperature, and salinity. In Bohol, guso are farmed for commercial purposes and food consumption particularly in Hingotanan, Bien Unido, Bohol since 1973. They have complex body structures that are anchored to rocks and corals with their rootlike “holdfasts” and their branched filaments. Seaweeds are an important food source for jellyfishes, crustaceans, sea turtles, and more, including humans. The Eucheuma cottonii belongs to the red algae (Rhodophyta) and grows in shallow reefs along rocky shorelines in tropical waters. Seaweeds are members of the marine algae family Protista. Today’s Marine Monday, your National Museum Bohol presents this nutritious food source from our marine ecosystem, the Seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) locally called Guso. ![]()
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