Abstract

Three varieties of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Kapilaran, KAP), Tambalang purple (PUR), Adik-adik (AA), and one

variety of Kappaphycus striatum var. sacol (green sacol (GS) were used to determine the efficiency of Acadian

marine plant extract powder (AMPEP) as a culture medium at different concentrations, for the regeneration of

young plants of Kappaphycus varieties, using tissue culture techniques for the production of seed stock for

nursery and outplanting purposes for the commercial cultivation of carrageenophytes. A shorter duration for

shoot formation was observed when the explant was treated with AMPEP + Plant Growth Regulator (PGR =

PAA + zeatin at 1 mg L^−۱) compared to AMPEP when used singly. However, four explants responded differently

to the number of days required for shoot formation. The KAP variety took 46 days to form shoots at 3–۴ mg L^−۱ AMPEP + PGR; while PUR required 21 days at 3–۵ mg L^−۱ AMPEP and 3–۴ mg

 L^−۱ AMPEP + PGR. AA

required 17 days at 3–۵ mg L^−۱ AMPEP and AMPEP + PGR; and GS 25 days at 1 mg L^−۱ AMPEP + PGR. It was

observed that among the four explants used, PUR and AA initiated shoot formation with the use of AMPEP only

at higher concentrations (3–۵ mg L^−۱) after a shorter period. Only PUR responded positively to ESS/2 for shoot

initiation. The use of AMPEP alone and/or in combination with PGR as a culture medium in the propagation of

microplantlets using tissue culture technique is highly encouraging.