Abstract

Sarcothalia crispata (Bory) Leister, together with other Gigartinales, is intensively exploited in the south of Chile for carrageenan production. The natural beds are being exploited without protective measures, which calls for the development of cultivation technologies as an alternative to wild biomass supply. This study investigates the phenology, abundance and maturity of reproductive structures in mature fronds, spore cultivation and sporeling development under different conditions of light and temperature. The results show that cystocarps and tetrasporangia are produced throughout the year. In summer, there is a biomass increase in natural beds. Carpospores and tetraspores were viable, in culture, at all the conditions of light and temperature tested (5, 10 and 15°C; 10, 30 and 50 μmol.m–2.s–1). Within the range tested in culture, higher temperature and irradiance levels favoured the growth of thalli in Sarcothalia. These factors can be manipulated to increase the growth of both phases in culture.