A Comparison of Different Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis （Rhodophyta） Parts in Biochemical Characteristics, Protoplast Formation and Regeneration

Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis is a commercially exploited alga.Its filaceous thallus can be divided into three parts,holdfast,middle segment and tip.The growth and branch forming trend and agar content of these three parts were analyzed,respectively,in this study.The results showed that the tip had the highest growth rate and branched most,although it was the last part with branch forming ability.The holdfast formed branches earliest but slowly.Holdfast had the highest agar content.We also assessed the difference in protoplast formation and regeneration among three parts.The middle segment displayed the shortest enzymolysis time and the highest protoplast yield; whereas the tip had the strongest vitality of protoplasts formation.Juvenile plants were only obtained from the protoplasts generated from the tip.These results suggested that the differentiation and function of G.lemaneiformis was different.