Salinity as a tool for strain selection in recirculating land-based production of Ulva spp. from germlings to adults

Abstract The genus Ulva is globally distributed and has been thoroughly studied because of its functional biochemical composition, rapid growth rates opportunistic features, interest in cultivation growing worldwide. In Europe, mostly near- on-shore flow-through systems are used land-based recirculating aquaculture (RAS) using fresh water or artificial seawater have not developed for . While RAS provides quality control can be located inland, maintenance costs high. Using selected strains adapted to low-salinity could reduce production improve the economic feasibility. Therefore, our study assessed how salinity as a tool strain selection optimization traits. Growth antioxidant activity three species (four strains) tubular foliose from NE-Atlantic Mediterranean (foliose: lacinulata – two geographical strains, tubular: linza flexuosa ) were followed weeks at salinities ranging 10 30 PSU. achieved optimal lower than U. However, both higher even sub-optimal salinity. good candidate with seawater, cost salt reduced by up 33.3% (20 PSU) without significantly reducing rate Higher was PSU days, suggesting that traits cultivated optimized prior harvest.