Saccharina japonica
| Saccharina japonica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| (unranked): | SAR |
| Superphylum: | Heterokonta |
| Class: | Phaeophyceae |
| Order: | Laminariales |
| Family: | Laminariaceae |
| Genus: | Saccharina |
| Species: | S. japonica |
| Binomial name | |
| Saccharina japonica (J.E. Areschoug) C.E. Lane, C. Mayes, Druehl & G.W. Saunders | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Laminaria japonica J.E. Areschoug | |
Saccharina japonica is a marine species of Phaeophyceae (brown algae), a type of kelp or seaweed, that is extensively cultivated in China, Japan and Korea.
A commercially important species, Saccharina japonica is known as kombu (in China haidai, in Korea dasima), an important food from Japan. Large harvests are produced by rope cultivation, a simple method of growing seaweeds by attaching them to floating ropes in the ocean.[1][2]
The species is native to Japan, but has been cultivated in China, Japan, Russia, France, and Korea.[3] It is one of the two most consumed species of kelp in China and Japan.[1] The harvest is also used for the production of alginates, with China producing up to ten thousand tonnes of the product each year.[4]
Consuming excessive amounts of Saccharina japonica has been shown to suppress thyroid function.[5]
The species was transferred to Saccharina in 2006.[6] Three synonyms for this species name are Laminaria japonica J.E. Areschoug 1851, its variety Laminaria japonica var. ochotensis (Miyabe) Okamura 1936, and Laminaria ochotensis Miyabe 1902.[3]
See also
References
- 1 2 M. D. Guiry. "Kelps: Laminaria and Saccharina". www.seaweed.ie.
- ↑ Laminaria seafarming in China FAO
- 1 2 Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "'Saccharina japonica'". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.
- ↑ M. D. Guiry. "Alginates". www.seaweed.ie.
- ↑ Miyai, Kiyoshi; Tokushige, Tomoyasu; Kondo, Masahiko (2008-12-01). "Suppression of thyroid function during ingestion of seaweed "Kombu" (Laminaria japonoca) in normal Japanese adults". Endocrine Journal. 55 (6): 1103–1108. doi:10.1507/endocrj.k08e-125. ISSN 1348-4540. PMID 18689954.
- ↑ Lane, C.E., Mayes, C., Druehl, L.D. & Saunders, G.W. (2006). A multi-gene molecular investigation of the kelp (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) supports substantial taxonomic re-organization. Journal of Phycology 42: 493-512.