The growth of alginate-encapsulated macroalgal spores

Abstract

The present study examined the growth of alginate-encapsulated marine macroalgal spores of a green alga (Ulva intestinalis) and brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida and Ecklonia cava). We compared the initial germination and growth of gametes and thalli using alginate-encapsulated and non-encapsulated spores. Spores of the three algal species germinated easily; there were no significant differences between alginate-encapsulated and non-encapsulated spores (p > 0.05). After 45 days of culture, the alginate-encapsulated and non-encapsulated U. intestinalis spores were 35.315 +/- 0.252 mm and 33.616 +/- 0.815 mm in size, respectively. Encapsulated and non-encapsulated U. pinnatifida thalli (including gametophytes) were 24.928 +/- 0.956 mm and 12.771 +/- 0.458 mm, respectively. Encapsulated and non-encapsulated E. cava gametophytes were 648.35 +/- 15.715 mu m and 148. 33 +/- 1.616 mu m, respectively. Encapsulated spores of these three algal species tended to grow faster than non-encapsulated spores. Given these results, the artificial encapsulation with alginate was an effective way to enhance the growth of all three tested macroalgal spores.