FACTORS AFFECTING PROTOPLAST YIELD OF THE CARRAGEENOPHYTE SOLIERIA-FILIFORMIS (GIGARTINALES, RHODOPHYTA)

The effect of age, pH of the culture medium, pre-treatment of tissues, enzymes sources and enzymatic adaptability of phycophages fed with a monospecific diet were analyzed on the protoplast yields of the red seaweed Solieria filiformis (Kutzing) Gabrielson. New apices from fast growing plants showed the highest protoplast yields. The protoplast yield decreased when the pH of the culture medium increased from 6.0 to 9.0. Crude extracts from the abalone Haliotis coccinea canariensis Nordsieck, fed with Solieria filiformis thalli for three months in combination with cellulysin, released the highest number of viable cells and protoplasts. Yields ranged from 1.0 to 8.5 x 10(6) protoplasts per gram of fresh weight.