Micropropagation by explants of Gracilaria chilensis Bird, McLachlan and Oliveira

Regeneration studies were carried out on four morphotypes of Gracilaria chilensis found on the coast of Chile (36 - 41 degreesS). Vegetative explants were obtained from sections of apical and medial origin and were cultured in five media: filtered autoclaved seawater (FAS), Provasoli enriched seawater ( PES), PES + indole-3-acetic acid ( PIAA), PES + kinetin (PK) and PK + IAA (PKIAA). Mature female gametophyte and tetrasporophyte explants were obtained from sections of medial origin and were cultured in FAS and PES. Bud differentiation and/or callus formation were the morphogenetic responses to the wounding of the explants in all culture media. Plantlet regeneration was obtained from excised buds and calluses cultured separately.