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Research Article Volume 15 Issue 2
Utilization of unused sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) Tunics as compost: impacts on the growth and nutritional value of potatoes
Akiko Yamada Taniguchi, Yozo Mitarai, Machiko Kazami, Haruko Noguchi, Shinichi Oishi
Received: June 18, 2026 | Published: June 23, 2026
Citation: Taniguchi AY, Mitarai Y, Kazami M, et al. Utilization of unused sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) Tunics as compost: impacts on the growth and nutritional value of potatoes. J Aquac Mar Biol. 2026;15(2):79-82. DOI: 10.15406/jamb.2026.15.00445
Abstract
Sea squirts (“Hoya” in Japanese) are tunicates, marine animals mainly farmed along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region in Japan. This study aimed to effectively utilize the tunics of sea squirts, an underutilized resource not used for food, by considering their use in compost. This research is part of the recovery efforts following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Previously, in study,1 Japanese radishes were grown using sea squirt tunic compost. The roots and leaves grew large. These radishes were rich in protein and minerals, high in sugar and vitamin C, and contained a significant amount of glutamic acid, a flavor component. This time, potatoes were grown using sea squirt tunic compost. The potatoes grown with sea squirt tunic compost were smaller in size, but had higher sugar and glutamic acid levels, and twice as much vitamin C as control potatoes. Potatoes grown with sea squirt tunic compost were highly nutritious. Following our previous report on radishes, we confirmed that sea squirt tunics can be effectively used as compost because they contain many of the nutrients found in potatoes.
Keywords: sea squirts tunics, compost, potato, nutritional value, reconstruction support of Great East Japan Earthquake
©2026 Taniguchi, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.