Characterization and production of tetraspore-derived seedlings of Grateloupia lanceolata (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta) in northeastern China

Abstract

Ye N., Zhang X., Wang H., Lian W., Mao Y., Xu D., Li B., Liang C., Zou J., Zhu B., Jiang Z., Gao Z. and Li D. 2012. Characterization and production of tetraspore-derived seedlings of Grateloupia lanceolata (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta) in northeastern China. Phycologia 51: 330–339. DOI: 10.2216/11-03.1In this study, Grateloupia lanceolata, newly recorded from northeastern China, was classified on the basis of morphology and rbcL sequence analysis and also raised in a laboratory to evaluate the feasibility of producing tetraspore-derived seedlings. Analysis of the rbcL sequence showed the samples to be monophyletic with G. lanceolata and different from any other species of the genus. Analysis of variance indicated that time has a significant (P < 0.01) effect on both tetraspore output and the percentage of total tetraspores released; those released in the first 2 d made up more than 72% of the total sporulation output; whereas, those released in the last 2 d contributed only 2.52%. In culture, tetraspores released from the unilocular sporangia developed into small discs in one week, and 87% ± 5.7% of the tetraspores that settled developed into sporelings after 9 wk of culture. Tetraspore culture of G. lanceolata in tanks and in the open sea proved to be a feasible method of generating large numbers of individual gametophytes economically.