A Review of the Use of Spores for the Supply of High-Quality Kappaphycus alvarezii Seedlings

Seaweeds are an important source of income for coastal communities and are a leading export commodity that is a source of foreign exchange for Indonesia, where the species that occupies the top position in terms of quantity, marketed globally, is the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii. Optimization of seaweed “seed” (seedling) production is very important for succesful cultivation of this species. In addition to thallus fragmentation, Kappaphycus can reproduce by spores. Several researchers have suggested various advantages of using spores during cultivar propagation in the seaweed cultivation industry. Based on their results, the author investigated the possibilities of using spore technology as an effort to enhance propagule biomass in order to meet the needs of Indonesian seaweed farmers. The results are presented in this chapter.