Assessment of regulatory compounds in commercial red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii after long-distance transportation

India has taken a huge leap in the seaweed aquaculture sector, and Kappaphycus alvarezii is the most prominent carrageenophyte cultivated so far. With the ever-increasing demands for seaweed feedstock, the quality of planting material would determine the extent of the expansion of commercial farming. The current study is a sequel to our previous investigation on the long-distance transport of K. alvarezii planting material. The present work determines the effect of a bio-stimulant AMPEP (Ascophyllum Marine Plant Extract Powder) in imparting tolerance to the translocated planting material against desiccation. Various regulatory components like phytohormones; antioxidant enzymes (CAT, APX, GR); and metabolic components were assessed for day 0 (immediately after translocation) and day 1 (after 24 h of rehydration). It was observed that more than 84% moisture content was retained in translocated and AMPEP-treated translocated samples. After 24 h of rehydration, the catalase activity increased from 45,343.3 Unit mg protein−1 in the control to 146,148 and 321,489.1 Unit mg protein−1 in translocated and AMPEP-treated translocated biomass respectively. Similarly, ascorbate peroxidase activity increased from 0.3 Unit mg protein−1 to 2 Unit mg protein−1 in translocated and 1.3 Unit mg protein−1 in AMPEP-treated translocated biomass on day 1, which is significantly higher than their respective day 0 values. Glutathione reductase activity, on the other hand, decreased significantly on day 1 as compared to day 0. The activity increased significantly from 18.9 Unit mg protein−1 to 25.7 and 276 Unit mg protein−1, respectively, in translocated and AMPEP-treated translocated biomass. Similarly, the concentration of metabolites palmitic and benzoic acids, which help the cells against oxidative stress, also increased significantly in AMPEP-treated translocated biomass. Auxin and cytokinin concentrations however decreased in AMPEP-treated translocated biomass on day 1 as compared to translocated. The implementation of management practice based on the study would ultimately lead to the enhancement of livelihood prospects of the coastal communities involved in seaweed farming.