The Effect of Different Oblique Incision Length in Slide-Slipped Grafting using Tissue Cultured and Local Seedlings on the Growth of Seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) in Sasara Coastal Waters, Kulisusu Bay, Buton Utara, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

This research was conducted for four months from January to May, 2019 in Sasara coastal Waters, Kulisusu Bay, Buton Utara, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. The aim of this research was to determine the best oblique incision length (OIL) to use in slide-slipped grafting using tissue cultured and local seedlings in terms of the growth and carrageenan yield of the seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii. The treatments used in this study were A: 25-mm OIL, B: 30-mm OIL and C: 35-mm OIL. After 18 days, grafts using all OILs were successfully attached together. The new seedlings were then cultivated for 45 days. The results showed that the daily growth rate (DGR) did not differ significantly between treatments. The 25-mm OIL treatment had the highest DGR (3.98±0.97 %.day−1) followed by 35-mm OIL(3.90 ± 1.32%.day−1 and 30-mm OIL (3.69 ± 0.91 %.day−1). The ratio of fresh weight (FW) to dry weight (DW) also showed no significant differences among treatments. FW:DW ratios of treatments 25 mm OIL, 30 mm OIL, and 35 mm OIL were 8.13:1, 7.42:1, and 5.78:1, respectively. For carrageenan content, 30-mm OIL seedlings of showed higher content but it was not significantly different from the other treatments. Water quality parameters were: salinity 24-32 ppt; temperature 29-31 ° C; nitrate 0.336-0.432 mg.l−1; phosphate 0.195-0.542 ppm; and turbidity 3,124-9,331 NTU.