Morpho- and Chemotyping of Holopelagic Sargassum Species Causing Massive Strandings in the Caribbean Region

The specific identification of three major morphotypes of the tropical holopelagic Sargassum species causing massive strandings on the African and Caribbean coastlines was attempted by morphological characterisation as well as quantitative and qualitative analyses of several metabolites. Of the 25 m...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phycology
Main Authors: Kergosien, Nolwenn, Helias, Mathieu, Le Grand, Fabienne, Cerantola, Stéphane, Simon, Gaelle, Nirma, Charlotte, Thibaut, Thierry, Berline, Léo, Changeux, Thomas, Blanfumé, Aurélie, Connan, Solène, Stiger-pouvreau, Valerie
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI 2024
Subjects:
chemotyping
fatty acids
holopelagic Sargassum
morphotyping
NMR fingerprinting
phlorotannins
pigments
North Atlantic
Online Access:https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00898/100957/111465.pdf
https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00898/100957/111466.zip
https://doi.org/10.3390/phycology4030018
https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00898/100957/
Description
Summary:The specific identification of three major morphotypes of the tropical holopelagic Sargassum species causing massive strandings on the African and Caribbean coastlines was attempted by morphological characterisation as well as quantitative and qualitative analyses of several metabolites. Of the 25 morphological variables studied on 208 samples from the North Atlantic Ocean, 22 were used to establish a dichotomous identification key, allowing without any doubt the identification of each morphotype based on their morphological criteria alone. We also attempted to differentiate morphotypes using chemical fingerprintings (HR-MAS NMR) and markers by analysing pigment level and composition using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, terpene profiles by Thin Layer Chromatography, phenolic compound levels by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and structures by 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, and fatty acid composition by Gas Chromatography. While pigment level and composition, terpene profiles, and phenolic contents were not discriminating, quantification of eight fatty acids enabled the differentiation of the three morphotypes. Furthermore, phlorotannin purification permitted their structural characterisation allowing discrimination between the three morphotypes. Our study highlights the potential of the free fatty acid profile and phlorotannin structure as good chemomarkers in order to discriminate between the three morphotypes of holopelagic Sargassum.

Similar Items