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Growth and epiphytic responses of Gracilaria fisheri to Ascophyllum seaweed extract under controlled culture conditions

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Abstract

Gracilaria fisheri is an important red seaweed on the sea coast of Thailand. Cultivation of this seaweed has brought economic benefits to the farmers in this country. However, its low growth and quality are problematic due to high contamination and epiphyte outbreaks. This study was performed to examine the growth and epiphytic responses of G. fisheri to Ascophyllum seaweed extract (SE). The algal samples were treated with SE at different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 g SE L–1). Three sets of experiments were conducted in the laboratory under controlled culture conditions of salinity of 30‰, temperature of 25–26°C, and light intensity of 200 μmol photons m–2 s–1. The algal samples were soaked for 30 min in SE alone (Experiment 1), in Provasoli Enriched Seawater (PES)+SE (Experiment 2), and in PES+SE with a 5% CO2 supplement (Experiment 3). The results showed a significant reduction in epiphytes (>90%) in the sample after one week of treatment with 1 g SE L-1. The use of SE significantly stimulated the branching of G. fisheri (p < 0.05). In comparison to the control plant (PES), the growth rate of the samples treated with PES+0.1 g SE L-1 was 3.40 ± 0.51% day-1 in the first week of culture, and this was increased to 3.84 ± 0.63% day-1 in the samples treated with PES+1 g SE L–1. The growth rate was significantly increased to 5.46 ± 1.05% day-1 in the samples treated with PES+1 g SE L-1 with a 5% CO2 supplement. This study suggested that the use of the Ascophyllum seaweed extract could inhibit epiphytic attachment and that supplementation with 5% CO2 resulted in enhanced growth of G. fisheri under controlled culture conditions.

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. Requests for material should be made to the corresponding authors.

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Acknowledgements

This research was facilitated by the Algal Bioresources Research Center, Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University. The authors would like to thank Dr. Alan T. Critchley for his kindly provide the seaweed extract AMPEP (Acadian marine plant extract powder) and for valuable comments. Thanks also to anonymous reviewers whose remarks helped to improve this paper.

Funding

This research was in kind supported (equipment, chemical reagents, etc.) by the Algal Bioresources Research Center, Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Algal Bioresources Research Center, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Anong Chirapart, Sunisa Khreauthong & Jantana Praiboon

  2. Department of Fisheries, Aquatic Animal Feed Research and​ Development Division, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Surichay Rattanasaensri

  3. Department of Technology and Industry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Division of Fishery Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Mueang, Pattani, 94000, Thailand

    Rapeeporn Ruangchuay

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  1. Anong Chirapart
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  5. Rapeeporn Ruangchuay
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Contributions

A. Chirapart designed all experiment, prepared figures 2 and 4, and wrote the main manuscript text. S. Khreauthong performed experiment and preparing figures 5, 6. J. Praiboon contributed the research work and discussion. S. Rattanasaensri performed experiment and preparing figures 1, 3. R. Ruangchuay provided all materials of Gracilaria fisheri and discussion.

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Correspondence to Anong Chirapart.

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Chirapart, A., Khreauthong, S., Praiboon, J. et al. Growth and epiphytic responses of Gracilaria fisheri to Ascophyllum seaweed extract under controlled culture conditions. J Appl Phycol 34, 3107–3115 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-022-02827-7

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