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Salinity stress enhances protein content and amino acid profile in Gracilaria cornea (Rhodophyta)
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  • Published: 02 February 2026

Salinity stress enhances protein content and amino acid profile in Gracilaria cornea (Rhodophyta)

  • Niva Tadmor-Shalev1,
  • Eli Shemesh2,
  • Álvaro Israel3,
  • Andrea Ghermandi1,
  • Dan Tchernov2 &
  • …
  • Anna Brook4 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Biochemistry
  • Environmental sciences
  • Physiology
  • Plant sciences

Abstract

Marine macroalga are frequently exposed to environmental stresses impairing their overall physiology and growth potential. Among these, Gracilaria cornea (Rhodophyta) is a valuable red seaweed rich in protein and polysaccharides. To investigate its physiological responses under controlled conditions, we cultivated Gracilaria cornea in an indoor culture system at three different salinity levels (30, 40 and 50 ppt), employing continuous aeration, blue and white LED illumination (12:12 light: dark cycle), and exogenous addition of nitrogen and phosphorus. Physiological changes associated with protein content accumulation and amino acid composition were determined using in-situ reflectance spectroscopy (VIS-NIR range 560–674 nm), AI algorithm and GC-MS analysis. We developed novel tools to accurately predict amino acid composition and total protein yield, identified the environmental factors inducing trait accumulation and determined the optimal harvesting day. Hypersaline stress and cultivation day significantly influenced protein content with optimal protein content (> 35% dry weight) achieved on day 14. This peak was not correlated with the specific growth rate (SGR), indicating SGR may not reliably indicate protein yield in this context. The dry weight to fresh weight ratio (DW: FW) was higher under hypersaline conditions, leading to a greater dried biomass and higher protein content, despite a reduced overall growth rate. Protein content was maximal under high ambient pH and high salinity. Day 14 was optimal for the highest yield of essential amino acids (EAA), exceeding 40% of the total amino acids. The algorithmic model accurately predicted specific amino acid proportions.

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Data availability

The spectral and laboratory measurements that support the findings of this study are available from the University of Haifa, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under licence for the current study and so are not publicly available. The data are, however, available upon request and with the permission of the University of Haifa.

Abbreviations

NIR:

Near infrared

ANN:

Artificial neural network

DW:

Dry weight

FW:

Fresh weight

VIS-NIR:

Visible-near

NM:

Nano meter

GC-MS:

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry

AA:

Amino acid

EAA:

Essential amino acid

NEAA:

Nonessential amino acid

Ppt:

Parts per thousand

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Funding

“This research received no external funding”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Abba Khushi Ave., Mount Carmel, 3498838, Israel

    Niva Tadmor-Shalev & Andrea Ghermandi

  2. Department of Marine Biology, Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel

    Eli Shemesh & Dan Tchernov

  3. Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research Ltd, Tel Shikmona Haifa, 3109701, Israel

    Álvaro Israel

  4. Spectroscopy & Remote Sensing Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 3498838, Israel

    Anna Brook

Authors
  1. Niva Tadmor-Shalev
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  2. Eli Shemesh
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Contributions

Niva Tadmor-Shalev: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing – Original Draft, Writing – Review & Editing, Visualization, Project Administration. Anna Brook, Software, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing – Review & Editing. Eli Shemesh: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Data curation. Andrea Ghermandi: Writing – Review & Editing, Supervision. Álvaro Israel: Methodology, Writing – Review & Editing. Dan Tchernov: Resources, Supervision.

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Correspondence to Anna Brook.

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Tadmor-Shalev, N., Shemesh, E., Israel, Á. et al. Salinity stress enhances protein content and amino acid profile in Gracilaria cornea (Rhodophyta). Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36828-0

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  • Received: 14 September 2025

  • Accepted: 16 January 2026

  • Published: 02 February 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36828-0

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Keywords

  • Gracilaria
  • Seaweed
  • Protein concentration
  • Amino acid composition
  • Salinity
  • Reflectance spectroscopy
  • Prediction
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