Naturally occurring levels of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were analyzed in female gametophyte (nonfertilized) and reproductive tissues (cystocarps) at two different stages of development in the marine red algae Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh. Endogenous polyamine levels changed at differential stages of cystocarp maturation. Highest polyamine values were found on tissue from the early post‐fertilization stage, decreasing as the cystocarp matured. Incubation experiments revealed that exogenous polyamines induced cystocarp maturation and promoted carpospore liberation, developing cell masses within 4 to 7 days in treatments with spermine. This is the first report on the effect of polyamines on cystocarp maturation in marine algae.

Carpospore output and development in the marine red alga Hydropuntia cornea J. Agardh. were increased by adding polyamines (PAs) (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) singly or in combinations at 10(-9), 10(-6) and 10(-3) M. Cell divisions after spore release and development of apical axis between 17 and 21 days characterized carpospore development. PAs increased carpospore development by promoting cell divisions to form cell masses between day 2 and 3. Morphogenesis to develop apical axes occurred at day 7. Spermine at 10(-6) M and a combination of putrescine 10(-9) M + spermidine 10(-9) M + spermine 10(-9) M gave a higher number of carpospores and enhanced their further development to sporelings.

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