Influence of Culture Conditions on the Growth of Red Macroalgae. A systematic review

Abstract

The objective of the research is to provide information on the culture conditions that influence the growth of red macroalgae. A systematic review was developed selecting 19 articles, they were distributed according to the specific objectives: reproduction method, environmental parameters and culture systems. Among the reproduction methods, asexual propagation is mostly applied, being the tissue cultures with the highest growth rate (7.01 %/day DGR). The environmental parameters for controlled conditions are maintained between 19-31°C temperature, 40-60 μmol photons m-2s-1 of irradiance and natural light hours:darkness, and in the field a temperature of 27-34°C is commonly measured, 28.31 ppt salinity, 6-8 pH,and 5-8 mg/L dissolved oxygen. Among the culture systems, long Line gave higher growth rates (5.84 -7.01 %/day) than "palangre" (2.8-6.18 %/day) in the case of the most studied species, Kappaphycus alvarezii. In conclusion, the method of asexual reproduction, the environmental parameters in culture of temperature, irradiance and light hours:darkness, and field measurements of temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen; and the use of the Long Line culture system, are the ones that give the highest growth rates for red macroalgae.