Structural analysis of kappa-carrageenan isolated from Hypnea musciformis (red algae) and evaluation as an elicitor of plant defense mechanism

High molecular weight crude and purified polysaccharide fractions obtained from Hypnea musciformis, red algae were evaluated for their elicitor activity in terms of induced browning and phytoalexins production in the cotyledons of Chickpea and Peas. Intense browning was performed from purified fraction of algae that was extracted with water, dilute alkali and acid for elicitor preparations and maximum yield (30.2%) was obtained in aqueous extraction. Chemical composition of these extracted polysaccharides in terms of total sugar, protein, sulfate and uronic acid was performed and found that purified fractions contained sugar content (67.6%) and galactose as a major sugar component. using. Gel Permeation Chromatography of purified fraction identified molecular range ≥70,000 Da. On the basis of FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR studies, the purified fraction was safely characterized as k-carrageenan.