ABSTRACT:Although most members of the genus Enteromorpha are important edible green algae, some species are also potentially economically valuable crops. Samples of E. prolifera were obtained from the Yoshino River estuary, Tokushima, Japan and cultured in laboratory conditions at 10°C, a salinity of 20 psu, under white light with 12 h light : 12 h dark cycle and at a photon fluence rate (PFR) of 40 mmol/m 2 per s for 30 days. In the present study, the effect of salinity and PFR on the induction of reproductive cells and rhizoid formation were investigated. Synchronous formation of swarmers by thalli was induced in excised disks of 1.2 mm diameter after 2-5 days incubation. The optimum salinity for maturation of reproductive cells was between 5.0 and 52.0 psu, and between 13.2 and 45.3 psu for swarmer release, although the lower limit for swarmer release was 5.0 psu. Maturation of reproductive cells and swarmer release required a PFR higher than 16 mmol/m 2 per s. The minimum PFR for swarmer release was 8 mmol/m 2 per s. Many rhizoids were formed between 1.6 and 52.0 psu and photon fluence rates between 8 and 320 mmol/m 2 per s. Rhizoids were formed in a polarized manner.

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Microalgae with high growth rates have been considered as promising organisms to replace fossil resources with contemporary primary production as a renewable source. However, their microscopic size makes it hard to be harvested for industrial applications. In this regard, multicellular macroalgae are more suitable for harvesting. Here, we show that Ulva meridionalis has the highest growth rate ever reported for a multicellular autotrophic plant. Contrasted to the known bloom-forming species U. prolifera growing at an approximately twofold growth rate per day in optimum conditions, U. meridionalis grows at a daily rate of over fourfold. The high growth ability of this multicellular alga would provide the most effective method for CO 2 fixation and biomass production.

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