Morphological and growth responses of geographically isolated Macrocystis integrifolia populations when grown in a common environment

Abstract

Changes in blade morphology and growth characteristics of Macrocystis integrifolia Bory from four geographically separated populations grown in a common environment were followed over two growth seasons. Initial differences in blade morphology and rate of biomass change became increasingly similar over time, indicating a plastic phenotypic response to the environment. In contrast, frond elongation and the rate of frond initiation appeared to be genotypically controlled.