(LATO) IN LOWERED SEAWATER pH - Central Visayas Campus ...

2.3 Caulerpa lentillifera
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Bryopsidophyceae
Order: Bryopsidales
Family: Caulerpaceae
Genus: Caulerpa
Species: lentillifera
The genus Caulerpa are fast-growing green algae with fronds (“leaves”) that
come in a variety of shapes. The fronds between 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) in length are
attached to long runners (“stems”) called rhizomes. Besides simply spreading
outwards, Caulerpa can also propagate themselves vegetatively through sections of
rhizome that break off the parent plant and become established elsewhere ( Jenkins,
2009).
Caulerpa lentillifera is one of the favored species of edible Caulerpa due to its
soft and succulent texture. It is also known as sea grapes, green caviar, "ar-arosep", or
"lato" in the Philippines. The pond cultivation of C. lentillifera has been very
successful on Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines, with markets in Cebu and Manila.
About 400 hectares (ha) of ponds are under cultivation, producing 12-15 tonnes of
fresh seaweed per hectare per year (McGugh, 2003).
C. lentillifera is usually eaten raw with vinegar, as a snack or in a salad
(Jenkins, 2009). It was also found to be a potential source of plant food proteins
owing to its high protein levels and balanced amino acid profiles and mineral
supplements (Chirapart and Ratana-arporn, 2006). The study conducted by Chirapart
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