Abstract: The conchocelis is very important for artificial seeding production in Porphyra cultivation and can be potentially used for separation and extraction of high value phycoerythrin. We investigated several influential factors related to phycoerythrin content of Porphyra haitanensis conchocelis and studied the optimal controlled culture conditions under which high content of phycoerythrin was obtained. Specific operational processes: initial conchocelis was obtained from carpospores release of mature Porphyra thallus and responses of conchocelis phycoerythrin content to environmental factors and optimal controlled culture conditions were determined based on the designation of an orthogonal experimentation with interactional analysis of three factors and three levels [L₂₇(3¹³)]. Results demonstrate that factors of temperature,light intensity and salinity have significant effects on phycoerythrin content (P≤0.048 1). There are factorial interaction occurrences between temperature and light intensity or salinity(P≤0.043 1). However there is no significant interaction between light intensity and salinity(P=0.469 8). The optimal controlled culture conditions for high content of phycoerythrin are: temperature 18 ℃、light intensity 1 500 lx and salinity 20 or 25. Under optimal controlled culture condition, conchocelis phycoerythrin content is as high as 64.73 mg/g.dw (average±SD: 58.24±5.07 mg/g.dw).

Key words: Porphyra haitanensis, conchocelis, phycoerythrin, orthogonal experimentation, temperature, light intensity, salinity