Composition of Agars from Gracilaria cf. verrucosa and Pterocladia capillacea

Abstract
The properties of agars from G. verrucosa and P. capillacea of the Israeli Mediterranean coast were compared. Agar was fractionated on a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column into 3 main fractions: neutral agarose, sulfated agarose and sulfated galactan. Alkali treatment of both agars increased their gelling potential, by increasing the relative yield of the agarose fraction. The P. capillacea agar had a higher concentration of agarose, a higher isothermal gelling temperature and lower sulfate content as compared to G. verrucosa agar.