Abstract
Gracilaria chilensis has been extensively cultivated in Chile by means of vegetative propagation. This method consists of outplanting pieces of thalli, which are anchored by several methods to muddy or sandy substrata at densities of about 1 kg (wet weight) m −2. Here we describe a new technique for mass cultivation of Gracilaria on ropes inoculated with spores. The paper describes: (i) induction of sporulation and fixation on polypropylene ropes; (ii) evaluation of spore settlement on the ropes; (iii) incubation of the germlings in tanks with agricultural fertilizers and (iv) outplanting of the ropes with plantlets to a pilot stand of about 5000 m 2 in an estuary in Central Chile. The technique will allow the establishment of a commercial farm using the stock of spores contained in 30–40 kg cystocarpic Gracilaria chilensis ha −1, compared with the 10000 kg of seaweed necessary for planting 1 ha using the traditional methodology.
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