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Aquaculture production of duckweed for human consumption

  • US 5,269,819 A
  • Filed: 09/30/1991
  • Issued: 12/14/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for selecting and culturing at least one duckweed clone palatably suitable for human consumption comprising selecting at least one clone characterized by having not more than three roots per clone, said roots being not more than 15 mm in length and having at least three attached fronds, at least one of said fronds being characterized by a mature frond thickness greater than 1.4 mm and a mature frond length greater than 4 mm, with at least one of said fronds having an air space therein averaging at least 0.3 mm to contribute to the thickness, resiliency and crunchiness of the fronds, culturing said at least one clone in an artificial pond which includes a base which is insulated from contaminating soil by a water and soil impervious material having a smooth upper side surface, and maintaining said at least one duckweed clone at a density of at least 200 g fresh duckweed per square meter surface, under conditions which prevent sexual reproduction and allow asexual, vegetative reproduction of said at least one clone, wherein said complex when maintained at a density of at least 400 g fresh duckweed per square meter surface yields a dry mass output of at least 7.5 g/m2 /day and a protein output of at least 2.5 g/m2 /day whereby the characteristics of said at least one clone are maintained.

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