Abstract The red algaAsparagopsis taxiformishas recently been recognized for its unique ability to significantly reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals when fed in small quantities. The main obstacle in using this seaweed as a methane‐mitigating feed supplement is the lack of commercially available biomass. Little is known about how best to grow this red alga on a commercial scale, as there are few published studies that have investigated the factors that influence growth, physiology, and overall performance. This study examined the effects of temperature and CO2enrichment on the growth, photophysiology, and concentration of bromoform, the secondary metabolite largely responsible for methane reduction inA. taxiformis. A series of single and multifactor closed culture experiments were conducted onA. taxiformiscollected, isolated, and cultured from populations in Southern California. We identified the optimal temperature range to be between 22 and 26°C, with significant short‐term stress observed below 15°C and above 26°C. Carbon dioxide addition resulted in increased performance, when accounting for growth per CO2use. In general, we observed the highest bromoform concentrations in algae with the highest growth rates, but these results varied among experiments. These findings indicate that through environmental control and by addressing limiting resources, significant increases in biomass production and quality can be achieved. 
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                            Examining hydrogen peroxide-containing organelles in seaweeds
                        
                    
    
            Seaweeds, particularly the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis, produce and sequester bromomethanes, which are known for mitigating methane emissions in ruminants when used as a feed supplement. Bromomethane synthesis requires hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). We developed a staining assay utilizing 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) for identifying H2O2 in three groups of seaweeds (red, brown, and green), including intensely pigmented species. Our findings indicate the previously identified "gland cell" in Asparagopsis taxiformis, responsible for bromoform synthesis and retention, is a specialized large organelle rich in H2O2. Our study introduces an effective survey tool to identify promising seaweed species abundant in bromoform from diverse marine habitats. 
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                            - Award ID(s):
- 2129492
- PAR ID:
- 10558600
- Publisher / Repository:
- microPublication Biology
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- microPublication biology
- Volume:
- 2024
- ISSN:
- 2578-9430
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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