W.L. Gore & Associates (the makers of Goretex® waterproof and breathable membranes) are developing a wide range of unique seaweed cultivation substrates. These substrates have microstructures tailored to the attachment and encapsulation of specific seaweed spores and direct seedlings providing large improvements in plant attachment strength, fast/healthy growth and biofouling protection.
Inspired by nature, these “artificial rock” substrates show truly unique plant to microstructure interactions (see examples below) resulting in new cultivation opportunities for both established and difficult to cultivate species e.g. Saccharina Latissima and Palmaria Palmata which will be discussed during the presentation.
Using a variety of characterization techniques, the presentation will also highlight how structur al changes in these substrates can be used to control plant attachment strength, specific location of plant attachment, uniformity and spacing of seedling densities.