CULTIVATION OF HIGH-VALUE MARINE ALGAE

METHODS TO CULTIVATE VALUABLE MARINE MACROALGAE SPECIES ON LAND WILL BE DEVELOPED BASED ON INTENSIVE SALT WATER S SPRAY IRRIGATION. SPECIES INITIALLY CHOSEN FOR CULTIVATION INCLUDE PORPHYRA (NORIL), ULVA, GELIDIUM, AND GRACILARIA. THESE ARE VALUABLE AS FOODSTUFFS (PORPHYRA AND ULVA) AND GEL-CONTAINING PLANTS (GELIDIUM, AND GRACILARIA). THE EFFECTS OF ADDED NUTRIENTS, LIGHT INTENSITY AND PERIODICITY,AND PLANT DENSITY WILL BE EXAMINED. RESEARCH WILL BE DIRECTED AT TECHNIQUES FOR MASS CULTIVATION (GREATER THAN ONE ACRE) FROM SPORES THROUGH SPORELINGS TO MATURE PLANTS, AS OPPOSED TO VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION.