Premium
Germination and survival of tetraspores of Kappaphycus alvarezii var. alvarezii (Solieriaceae, Rhodophyta) introduced in subtropical waters of Brazil
Author(s) -
Bulboa Cristian,
De Paula Edison J.,
Chow Fungyi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
phycological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.438
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1835
pISSN - 1322-0829
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1835.2008.00483.x
Subject(s) - kappaphycus alvarezii , germination , biology , spore , subtropics , botany , algae , ecology
SUMMARY The carrageenophyte Kappaphycus alvarezii was introduced in 1995 and vegetatively propagated in Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil, for the purpose of commercial cultivation. This species produces tetraspores mainly in the austral summer and fall. Tetraspore germination and survival were studied under different conditions of temperature, photon flux density, and photoperiod in the laboratory. Field experiments were also carried out. Although tetraspores of K. alvarezii germinated, they had low survival rates, most dying after 20 days. Recruitment of K. alvarezii tetraspores did not occur in experiments conducted in the field. The results indicated that the establishment of K. alvarezii via spore production in the natural environment of the south‐east coast of Brazil is rather remote.