First attempt to cultivate the carrageenan-producing seaweed Chondracanthus chamissoi (C. Agardh) Kutzing (Rhodophyta; Gigartinales) in Northern Chile

Abstract

Chondracanthus chamissoi is an important source of carrageenan in Chile. Presently, all the production is harvested from wild populations. This study reports the first attempt to cultivate C. chamissoi. Experiments were conducted with female gametophytic and sporophytic thalli by inserting them among braids of a 7 mm polypropylene rope. Inoculated ropes were placed at 1, 3 and 5 m depths in two sheltered bays in northern Chile. The fronds adapted well to cultivation and grew at all the depths tested, although the greatest increase in biomass was observed at 1 m depth. On a yearly cycle, higher biomass increases were observed in autumn and winter months compared with the spring and summer. We believe that by adapting the cultivation methodology, this species could be cultivated year round.