Seasonal variations in chemical composition of Sargassum ilicifolium Grun. and Sea Water

165-168Seasonal variations in moisture, ash, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chlorides, sulphates and phosphates of Sargassum ilicifolium, collected from Ratnagiri Coast, have been determined and the data correlated with variations in the chemical composition of the sea water. As compared to the Sargassum species, growing in temperate climate, the Indian species is poor in alginate contents (12.47% in December). The alga is rich in mannitol but poor in soluble carbohydrates. Total polyphenols also show variations and their contents are stimulated by salinity levels