Obtaining spores for the production of Saccharina latissima: seasonal limitations in nature, and induction of sporogenesis in darkness

Abstract When cultivating the kelp Saccharina latissima , knowledge on availability of seeding material for production is essential. Applying a spore approach requires spores from reproductive organs fertile sporophytes (sori). As sori are generally not present during time in late summer, (sporogenesis) can be artificially induced by removing meristematic part sporophyte and keeping under short day, temperate, nutrient-replete conditions. Only limited information available effect light intensities including darkness sporogenesis S. . This study examined natural pattern Middelfart, Denmark, four different regimes (0, 20, 60, or 120 μmol photons m −2 s −1 ) artificial induction Natural reproductivity Denmark peaked early winter, with 86% population being November. Reproductive was October until spring, but variable release 11 × 10 3 to 1.2 6 cm sori. The optimal > 90% developing after 49 days, an average density 1.15 ± 0.38 results confirmed that follows general reproduction North Atlantic regions demonstrated first efficiently darkness.