# Valuable Nutri from _Ulva rigida_: Modulation by Seasonal and Cultivation Factors
## 4 Conclusions  
Our work highlights the richness of cultivated _Ulva rigida_ in valuable nutrients, albeit their variations caused by seasonal aspects. Among them, when cultivated in IMTA system, this species maintains high levels of proteins and fibers that may reach about 26 and 58% of their DW, respectively. The knowledge of seasonal biochemical composition of this green macroalgae produced in a sustainable IMTA system hopefully will inspire future studies on its vaporization, also by considering other cultivation conditions and \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Dietary Fiber**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Condition**} & \multicolumn{4}{c}{**Time**} \\ \cline{3-6}  & & **August 2016** & **November 2016** & **February 2017** & **May 2017** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Insoluble} & L\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/L\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 21.0 \(\pm\) 0.4 & 21.4 \(\pm\) 2.0 & 19.0 \(\pm\) 2.1 & 26.0 \(\pm\) 0.4 \\  & H\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/L\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 21.8 \(\pm\) 1.3 & 19.3 \(\pm\) 3.1 & 22.2 \(\pm\) 0.4 & 26.2 \(\pm\) 1.2 \\  & L\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/H\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 21.0 \(\pm\) 1.3 & 20.1 \(\pm\) 1.0 & 22.4 \(\pm\) 1.6 & 26.3 \(\pm\) 0.5 \\  & H\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/H\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 22.0 \(\pm\) 0.8 & 19.9 \(\pm\) 1.2 & 22.8 \(\pm\) 0.4 & 29.2 \(\pm\) 1.6 \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Soluble} & L\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/L\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 25.9 \(\pm\) 1.1 & 22.1 \(\pm\) 1.1 & 22.8 \(\pm\) 1.2 & 30.2 \(\pm\) 1.2 \\  & H\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/L\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 24.3 \(\pm\) 1.9 & 22.2 \(\pm\) 1.7 & 20.8 \(\pm\) 0.6 & 28.2 \(\pm\) 0.5 \\  & L\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/H\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 23.9 \(\pm\) 1.3 & 21.1 \(\pm\) 1.8 & 22.0 \(\pm\) 0.6 & 30.6 \(\pm\) 1.3 \\  & H\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/H\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 24.1 \(\pm\) 1.8 & 21.0 \(\pm\) 0.6 & 21.4 \(\pm\) 0.3 & 29.0 \(\pm\) 1.0 \\ \hline Total & L\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/L\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 46.9 \(\pm\) 1.3 & 43.5 \(\pm\) 2.4 & 41.8 \(\pm\) 1.2 & 57.1 \(\pm\) 0.4 \\  & H\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/L\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 43.4 \(\pm\) 0.0 & 41.5 \(\pm\) 1.7 & 43.4 \(\pm\) 0.5 & 54.4 \(\pm\) 1.2 \\  & L\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/H\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 45.8 \(\pm\) 0.5 & 41.2 \(\pm\) 0.8 & 39.0 \(\pm\) 1.4 & 56.9 \(\pm\) 1.1 \\  & H\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)/H\({}_{\text{Sd}}\) & 47.2 \(\pm\) 0.7 & 40.9 \(\pm\) 1.3 & 44.0 \(\pm\) 0.2 & 57.2 \(\pm\) 1.5 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* Values are expressed as mean \(\pm\) SD (n = 3, in triplicate).  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Seasonal variation of dietary fiber composition (g/100 g dry weight) in _Ulva_ produced by IMTA under different conditions of flow rate, high (H\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)) and low (L\({}_{\text{Fr}}\)), and of stocking density, high (H\({}_{\text{Sd}}\)) and low (L\({}_{\text{Sd}}\)). nutrient limits. These could even manipulate environmental parameters to induce different responses/adaptations in this macroalga. In addition, our study may also help promote the consumption of _Ulwa_ produced under controlled conditions, as its modulated biochemical profile may represent a good source of macro- and micronutrients, which are essential in a balanced diet. The following are available online at [[https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app11136137/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app11136137/s1)]([https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app11136137/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app11136137/s1)): Figure S1: Seasonal variation: (A) water temperature and (B) water salinity of _Ulwa rigida_ tanks produced by IMTA under different conditions of flow rate, high (\(\Circle\)) and low (\(\pi\)); and of stocking density, high (full lines) and low (dotted lines). Standard deviations are represented as bars (n = 3, in triplicate). Table S1: Recommended Daily Intakes (%) and Recommended Daily Allowances (g/day) for macro- and microminerals of dry _Ulwa rigida_ produced by IMTA under different conditions of flow rate, high (\(\mathrm{H_{Ft}}\)) and low (\(\mathrm{L_{Ft}}\)), and of stocking density, high (\(\mathrm{H_{Sd}}\)) and low (\(\mathrm{L_{Sd}}\)).