Asparagopsis armata tetrasporophyte microbiome following bacterial probiotic treatment
In this study, we developed a microcosm growth assay for the rapid selection of bacteria that promote the growth of Asparagopsis armata tetrasporophytes. We tested four bacterial strains from the genera Phaeobacter and Pseudoalteromonas for their impact on the growth of A. armata, as these bacteria have been previously recognised for their protective abilities in other seaweed and are known to be beneficial for various marine hosts. All strains significantly enhanced the growth rate of A. armata tetrasporophytes compared to controls without bacterial treatment.