The addition of low concentrations of commercial kelp extract (Ecklonia maxima: Kelpak R ) in addition to fertiliser has proven to be beneficial in agriculture. It triggers rooting in field crops, increases yields and has other useful effects, such as parasite reduction. Its efficacy has been attributed to the fact that Kelpak R is produced by a cold process, and is a high auxin/low cytokinin product. The aim of this study was to investigate if seaweeds (which do not have a root system) grown in culture systems, would benefit from the addition of Kelpak R or a combination of Kelpak R and fertilizer. A preliminary laboratory experiment was carried out by growing excised 15 mm tips of the red alga Gracilaria gracilis in culture dishes containing Provasoli Enriched Seawater medium to which various concentrations of Kelpak R were added.
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