Brushing directly onto spool?
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Hello all,
GreenWave Seed Bank and Nursery Tour on Vimeo
I would like to please know what the process is with the paintbrush on the spool in this Greenwave video. What is it that is being brushed exactly? Are these spores, gametophytes or sporophytes? Are they mixed into a solution or gel? Please direct me to someone who knows.
Thanks very much! Sofia
@sofia_41 Those are gametophytes being painted in a filtered seawater solution, onto a purpose manufactured seed string that is hydrophilic and provides good mechanical attachment opportunities for the gametophytes. The string is made by https://www.langmanropes.com/
@toby_sheppardbloch
Thanks so much for the reply. In our lab, we have put string in troughs of seawater allowing gravity to naturally settle the gametophytes to attach but this is a new technique.
Do you know if once the gametophytes in seawater are applied by brushing them, the spool is then immediately put into a tank? It seems to take a little time for gametophytes to adhere themselves to surfaces, unlike spores.
Is there another step after painting them on that keeps them in position so that they do not float off of the string once put into seawater?
Thanks a lot!
@sofia_41 After the gametophyte solution is applied the spools are moved into the nursery where the temperature is kept at 50° for 15 minutes to allow the gametophytes to 'set' on the seedstring before they are placed in the grow tanks.
@sofia_41 we’ve found really good luck fragmenting/blending/grinding gametophytes down to 5-10 cells right before seeding them (induces a glue response and makes your culture go further), painting or spraying on direct (painting seems to do better than spray for spools). Then giving 10-20 minutes in air at cold temps to absorb into the fibers. Finally, it takes gametophytes generally 24 hours for a good number to adhere, so if you can place spools carefully into cold tanks (still at temp!) with minimal to no water flow for 24 hours, they do well. Later you can crank up aeration and flow to accelerate growth, but giving the early recruits a calm environment to adhere is key. We’ve accidentally washed our seed off by not being careful enough the first 24 hours and ended up with poor cover.
@toby_sheppardbloch @maisie_musor1057
Thanks very much for your responses. That is an interesting observation about fragmenting inducing a glue response and good to know. @toby_sheppardbloch9913 what are you referring to as seed string on the Langman website?
I will share this with the rest of the lab team and respond with any questions. Thanks again! Sofia
@toby_sheppardbloch
Thanks so much for the reply. In our lab, we have put string in troughs of seawater allowing gravity to naturally settle the gametophytes to attach but this is a new technique.
Do you know if once the gametophytes in seawater are applied by brushing them, the spool is then immediately put into a tank? It seems to take a little time for gametophytes to adhere themselves to surfaces, unlike spores.
Is there another step after painting them on that keeps them in position so that they do not float off of the string once put into seawater?
Thanks a lot!
@sofia_41 After the gametophyte solution is applied the spools are moved into the nursery where the temperature is kept at 50° for 15 minutes to allow the gametophytes to 'set' on the seedstring before they are placed in the grow tanks.
@sofia_41 we’ve found really good luck fragmenting/blending/grinding gametophytes down to 5-10 cells right before seeding them (induces a glue response and makes your culture go further), painting or spraying on direct (painting seems to do better than spray for spools). Then giving 10-20 minutes in air at cold temps to absorb into the fibers. Finally, it takes gametophytes generally 24 hours for a good number to adhere, so if you can place spools carefully into cold tanks (still at temp!) with minimal to no water flow for 24 hours, they do well. Later you can crank up aeration and flow to accelerate growth, but giving the early recruits a calm environment to adhere is key. We’ve accidentally washed our seed off by not being careful enough the first 24 hours and ended up with poor cover.
@toby_sheppardbloch @maisie_musor1057
Thanks very much for your responses. That is an interesting observation about fragmenting inducing a glue response and good to know. @toby_sheppardbloch9913 what are you referring to as seed string on the Langman website?
I will share this with the rest of the lab team and respond with any questions. Thanks again! Sofia
@sofia_41 Langman custom fabricates the seed string to order--when you contact them as for Hortimare's kelp seed string.