Juveniles generados a partir de esporas no asentadas de Chondracanthus chamissoi (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) presentan capacidad de adhesión al sustrato

Abstract

Spores of some Gigartinaceae can germinate while drifting, and develop into unattached, multicellular, spherical juveniles (JNA). In the lab, growth of JNA of Chondracanthus chamissoi was positively affected by light intensity. Also, when 4-month old JNA were placed on artificial substrata, over 60% developed secondary attachment discs. Calcium addition stimulated early attachment of JNA, but life-cycle phase and developmental stage had no significant effect. Thus, JNA can be kept in the laboratory retaining their attachment capacities. Given these features, JNA could be used in propagation technologies, and may also have important effects in dispersion and colonization in natural populations.