NEUTRAL SPORE-BASED METHOD FOR PYROPIA LEUCOSTICTA CULTURE: A PROMISING ALTERNATIVE IN ROMANIAN BLACK SEA SHORE

Abstract

Nori algae, also known as Pyropia or Porphyra species, is a high-value mariculture algal product due to its nutritional value and unique active principles. Overexploitation of wild seaweed resources has led to irreversible disturbances in the marine environment. Therefore, there is a need to cultivate these marine macroalgae. In this study, we present a low-cost and simple method to cultivate Pyropia leucosticta along the Romanian Black Sea shore by manipulating its reproductive elements. The focus is on asexual reproduction via neutral spores, avoiding the complicated conchocelis phase. We identified the factors influencing the reproductive process and proposed a simulation in laboratory-controlled conditions. P. leucosticta was selected as it is native to the locality and meets all the criteria for ideal candidates for aquaculture. Our results demonstrated the great reproductive capacity of P. leucosticta under laboratory-controlled conditions, and this can be the first step in initiating the aquaculture of P. leucosticta along the Romanian Black Sea shore. Neutral spores as part of the species’ reproductive cycle are very efficient for obtaining new biological material for future needs. The method can be extended to large-scale testing depending on requirements and interest, but further research is necessary to optimize the method and make the transition to a large-scale cultivation approach