Effects of salinity and irradiance on early developmental stages of Grateloupia turuturu (Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) tetrasporophytes

Grateloupia turuturu is a red alga with a flat but firm slippery thallus. Throughout its lifetime, this alga experiences a wide range of environmental stresses in the intertidal rocky shores. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of salinity and irradiance on the early developmental stages of G. turuturu tetrasporophytes. The released carpospores were cultivated at different salinities (S = 15, 25, and 35) and irradiances (50, 100, and 200 μmol photons m-2 s-1). Germination of carpospores and development of juvenile tetrasporophytes were observed every 5 days and recorded by a digital camera. Discoid crusts were formed at all conditions within 5 days. The discoid crusts at 200 μmol photons m-2 s-1 died within 20 days regardless the salinity. The discoid crusts at S = 35 also died at all irradiance conditions within 25 days. Except for those at S = 35 and 200 μmol photons m-2 s-1, the discoid crusts reached about 8,000–9,000 μm2 by day 20. Regardless of irradiance, the upright thalli formation rate from discoid crusts was 85 and 10% at S = 15 and S = 25, respectively. These results suggest that salinity and irradiance are important factors influencing early developmental stages of G. turuturu.