AXENIC TISSUE-CULTURE OF SARGASSUM-CONFUSUM AGARDH,C (PHAEOPHYTA) AS A SOURCE OF SEEDS FOR ARTIFICIAL MARINE FORESTS

Excised tissues (3 x 3 x 3 mm) from the holdfast, stem, and lateral br anch of S. confusum were cultured in a liquid medium (modified Grund m edium) at different temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 degrees C), li ght intensities (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 mu mol/m(2)/s), and a photoperiod o f 14L:10D for eight weeks, Excised tissues produced three different st ructure types: white or pale yellow regenerated cells, brown callus ce lls. and primary lateral branches, Branch tissues produced only filame ntous regenerated cells, which grew especially well at lower light int ensities and temperatures. Stem explants produced all three structures , Holdfast explants produced filamentous regenerated cells and callus cells, These primary lateral branches with explants were outplanted at a depth of 1-3 m in seabeds as a source of seeds for marine forests. After 14 weeks, several plants had grown successfully and produced fem ale receptacles.