Seasonal variation in biomass availability and biochemical composition of Gayralia brasiliensis (Ulotrichales, Chlorophyta) from Shirgaon estuary west coast of India

The present study investigated the impact of seasonal variation on biomass availability, proximate composition, fatty acid profile, minerals content, pigments, moisture content, and elemental composition of an edible green alga Gayralia brasiliensis collected from Shirgaon estuary Maharashtra, west coast of India. Additionally, the physico-chemical parameters of the Shirgaon estuary were analyzed and correlated with biomass abundance and biochemical composition of G. brasiliensis. The findings of the present study demonstrated a significant variation in the physico-chemical parameters of seawater throughout the seasons. During the summer season, the biomass abundance (258.23 ± 23.06 g m^-2 FW), and the total protein content (11.12 ±1.37 % DW) were found highest while the total lipid content declined considerably. Nonetheless, the contents n-6 and n-3 PUFA increased significantly over the winter season. The concentration of micro-elements was highest during the winter season while the macro-elements found plenty during the monsoon season. The correlogram analysis revealed that biomass, total protein, total carbohydrate, chlorophyll pigments, and tissue C, H, N, and S were positively correlated with each other throughout all three seasons. Based on Pearson corelation analysis it is confirmed that among the environmental parameters, irradiance and temperature were found the most limiting factors for the growth of G. brasiliensis. Further, dissolved inorganic nitrate significantly influence the growth of G. brasiliensis negatively. Overall, the results of this study imply that G. brasiliensis should be harvested for desired metabolites during the respective seasons. The findings of the present study are expected to be extremely valuable for future cultivation strategies and edible applications of G. brasiliensis in India.