Objectif Laminaria digitata (Linné) Lamouroux (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) produces an alginic acid of high quality, which is greatly appreciated on the world market. This species also contains large amounts of iodine, an element that can be thought of as either an interesting industrial by-product or an important grade in food products. The goal of this research is to lay down the biological and genetical bases for the genetic improvement of Laminaria digitata, with the initial aim of breeding a higher quality supply of this raw material for the production of alginate. An additional, long-term goal is to select varieties with modified iodine content, that would be suitable for human consumption (low in iodine) or for the retrieval of iodine from the alginate industry effluents (high in iodine). This project combines refinement of the cultivation techniques in hatchery with an evaluation of the genetic resources for various traits of agronomic interest. In addition life history manipulations will be undertaken, aimed at speeding up future selection programmes. In practice, two complementary approaches will be undertaken: 1) investigation of reproductive biology, in order to master the production of seedlings, cut down generation time or by-pass genetic recombination; and 2) population and quantitative genetics, in order to assess and take advantage of the genetic variability in kelp populations. Experimentally, this includes the following lines of research: manipulation of the sexual as well as of the asexual life cycles of Laminaria digitata; evaluation of the variability and heritability of various quantitative traits such as growth rate, iodine content, yield and quality of alginates, and resistance to epiphytism. A preliminary, methodological work is required, i. e., development of molecular tools to investigate genetic polymorphism. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticshumanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryhalogensnatural sciencesbiological sciencesreproductive biology Programme(s) FP3-AIR - Specific research and technological development and demonstration programme (EEC) in the field of agriculture and agro-industry, including fisheries, 1990-1994 Thème(s) 255 - Improvement and conservation of the genetic basis of aquaculture Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER) Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Station de Nantes Rue de l'Ile d'Yeu 44037 Nantes France Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (3) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire Bundesministeriums fur Bildung,Wissenschaft,Forschung und Technologie Allemagne Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Notkestrasse 31 22607 Hamburg Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée CENTRE D'ETUDE ET DE VALORISATION DES ALGUES France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Presqu'île de Pan Lan L'Armor-Pleublan 22610 PLEUBIAN Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Place Georges Teissier 29682 Roscoff Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée