AXENIC CULTURE OF MARINE BROWN ALGA SARGASSUM-SWARTZII (PHAEOPHYTA, FUCALES)

A method for obtaining axenic culture of S. swartzii from the cut apic al and intercalary portions of the thalli and from the sterile oospore s has been described. The method involves the sonication, surface ster ilization of the thalli with betadiene (1%) for 3 min followed by a tr eatment with antibiotic mixture (330 mg neomycin, 150 mg oxytetracycli ne and 300 mg chloramphenical in 1 liter of autoclaved seawater) for 1 2-24h. The sterile oospores are better source of axenic material for t his alga.