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Biomass yield and morphological features of the seaweed Saccharina latissima cultivated at two different sites in a coastal bay in the Atlantic coast of Spain

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Abstract

The kelp Saccharina latissima is an economically important edible seaweed with great potential for use in other applications. The goal of this study was to identify locations in a coastal bay with better conditions for commercial cultivation of this species. We compared the biomass yield and morphological features of S. latissima cultivated at two locations in a bay of Galicia (northwest Spain): in an external moderately exposed site and in an internal sheltered site. Biomass yield was significantly higher at the moderately exposed site than at the sheltered site (16 fresh kg vs. 12 fresh kg per linear meter of rope). Fronds were significantly larger at the moderately exposed site compared to that at the sheltered site. However, the “substantiality value” (around 40 mg cm−2), which is an index used to assess blade quality for human consumption, did not differ significantly between the two locations. The effect of light exposure and water velocity seemed to be the most important environmental factors that explain the differences in the results obtained at both culture sites. In summary, both the moderately exposed site and the sheltered site were suitable for cultivation of S. latissima, as indicated by the high yields and similar blade quality obtained at both locations.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been developed in the framework of the projects AGL2002-01285 funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia of Spanish government. Thanks to the University of A Coruña and Provincial Council of A Coruña for awarding research fellowships to support this study. Gratitude is extended to PORTO-MUIÑOS edible seaweed selling company (A Coruña, Spain) and to all the members of the project. Also, special thanks to Dr N. Sánchez for her time and advice that greatly improved the manuscript and to Dr A. Secilla for his assistance in elaboration of the figures. Finally, we acknowledge the reviewers' suggestions which greatly improved this paper. The English language has been edited by International Science Editing, Ireland.

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Correspondence to César Peteiro.

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Peteiro, C., Freire, Ó. Biomass yield and morphological features of the seaweed Saccharina latissima cultivated at two different sites in a coastal bay in the Atlantic coast of Spain. J Appl Phycol 25, 205–213 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9854-9

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