Closed life-cycle aquaculture of sea lettuce (Ulva fenestrata): performance and biochemical profile differ in early developmental stages

Sea lettuce ( Ulva ) aquaculture has increased the last decade due to high productivity, wide environmental tolerance, and interesting functional nutritional properties of crop. Research focus mainly been on adult biomass production, but knowledge performance biochemical content early developmental stages – which are basis any large-scale production - is still limited. The life-history alternates between a diploid sporophytic life-stage haplontic gametophytic life-stage. Whereas sporophyte give raise recombinant gametophytes through zoids, can parthenogenetically developing, clonal gametes in absence mating partner. This study shows that have faster ontogenetic development, higher growth rate, as well protein, fatty acid, pigment contents compared crop fenestrata . Nutrient addition required for normal temperature swarmer density relatively small effects hatchery success, relative rate profile juvenile biomass. Our reveals selection life-history-phase novel sea strains could largely contribute emerging seaweed sector.