Comparison of the performance of sporophytes derived from narrow and wide genetic crosses between strains of the cultivated kelp Saccharina latissima

In a study examining the potential of local breeding strategies for improving Saccharina latissima strains, researchers compared the performance of sporophytes derived from narrow and wide genetic crosses between strains from two localities: southern Brittany, France, and the Faroe Islands. Despite analyzing growth rates and cell wall composition of F1 hybrids, the study found no clear advantage of inter-population crosses over intra-population crosses.

Consequently, the researchers concluded that breeding based on locally-resourced strains is a viable approach for current strain selection programs. Additionally, the study established a substantial collection of gametophyte strains from various sites, demonstrating that these strains maintain the ability to become fertile after more than ten years in culture.