XVI International Botanical Congess

A protocol for releasing spores of Hincksia irregularis has been developed. We examined the effects of settlement surface hydrophobicity, and both the presence and direction of light on the rates of spore settlement over 30 minutes. Settlement was not saturated at this time interval relative to 60 minutes. Despite preliminary observations of negative phototactic responses of the spores, the presence and direction of light during settlement did not significantly affect the rates of spore settlement in ninety-six well microtiter plates. Spore settlement was significantly influenced by surface hydrophobicity in the dark, but not in the light. Supported by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium award R/MT-40.