Effect of shelf life of brown algae Sargassum wightii (Fucales/Phaeophyta)and Turbinaria conoides (Fucales/Phaeophyta) on alginic acid yield

Two brown algae Sargassum wightii and Turbinaria conoides were collected fr om the shores of Mandapam, (south east coast of India) then dried in air un der sun and shade separately and stored at room temperature (30+/-2 degrees C) for a period of 120 days. Their alginic acid yield was determined at reg ular intervals of 15 days period. In sun dried Sargassum wightii, (moisture content 84.81+/-2.31%), slight increase in alginic acid was observed from 30 days to 105 days whereas in shade dried alga (moisture 81.17+/-2.19%), s light decrease in alginic acid yield was obtained on 120(th) day. In the ca se of Turbinaria conoides, depletion of alginic acid yield was more in shad e dried alga (moisture 81.82+/-1.68%) and lesser in sun dried alga (moistur e 83.96+/-2.5%). Therefore algae dried under direct sunlight and then store d in polythene bags increases the shelf life of above algae with respect to alginic acid content.