Background

Genotyping macroalgae is known to be difficult and time consuming due to the presence in these organisms of compounds affecting DNA extraction, both in terms of quantity and quality. NUI Galway researchers have developed a new technique for DNA extraction from macroalgae allowing higher yields and better quality. The DNA obtained is suitable for next generation sequencing-based techniques (Fort et al., Algal Research, 2018).

Assessing growth performance of macroalgae is difficult, costly and time consuming. It is usually performed in large containers, or in flasks in laboratories. Results are often difficult to repeat because (1) growth conditions are not well controlled, and (2) assessing growth requires removal of algae from their media and drying in order to weight them, which is an artificial source of stress. Thus it makes the comparison between a large number of strains difficult.

To overcome his problem NUI Galway researchers have developed a growth phenotyping platform which allows to measure accurately in highly controlled environmental conditions, the growth of Ulva spp. thalli. This method allows a 15-20 min resolution and is based on imaging. This platform currently allows the determination of the expansion of up to 360 thalli simultaneously. Results using this platform are highly reproducible.

Technology Overview

NUI Galway researchers have developed the following capabilities:

1. Macroalgae genotyping. DNA extraction and next generation sequencing for genotyping strains.

2. Growth performance measurement and phenotyping. This platform allows the comparison of the growth performance of hundreds of macroalgae strains concomitantly. In addition, the assessment of a strain performance takes only one week due to the high growth resolution of this platform. The platform can also assess additional phenotypic traits, such as thickness, dry weight, and metabolic composition (carbohydrate and protein contents).

Applications

Companies / breeders willing to select elite strains of macroalgae for their own applications.

Opportunity

Currently the platform is based on the use of cameras to measure growth in 2D, which is a very good proxy for macroalgae growing in the form of thalli. The researchers are taking pictures and have the full bioinformatics pipeline for analysing images without requirement for extensive manual curation.

NUI Galway would be interested to work with partners for extending the capacity of this platform in order to also be able to assess growth of macroalgae growing in 3D.

Macroalgae/Seaweed Genotyping and Growth Phenotyping Platform

IP Status

Seeking