EFFECTS OF THE CULTURE CONDITIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHONDRUS-CRISPUS STACKHOUSE (GIGARTINACEAE, RHODOPHYTA) IN CULTURE

The effects of different culture conditions (medium, growth regulators and irradiance) on the development of Chondrus crispus sporelings wer e investigated. All three factors had significant effects on the perce ntage of spores which germinated and/or on the growth of erect axes. S tatistically significant interactive effects (medium x irradiance, med ium x time and medium x growth regulator) were also found. Maximum spo re germination and growth of young shoots were obtained in Swm-t mediu m containing 1 mg L-1 of benzylaminopurine under an irradiance of 20 m u mol photons m(-2) s(-1). The highest irradiance tested, 30 mu mol ph otons m(-2) s(-1), caused discoloration of disc-stage sporelings and g reatly reduced their viability, but on the other hand, under this irra diance, growth of erect axes of more than 5 mm in length was highest i n Swm-t medium containing 1 mg L-1 of indole-3-acetic acid and naphtha lene-acetic acid.