Fluctuating light intensity had a more significant impact on growth of gametophytes of transgenic Laminaria japonica in a 2500 ml bubble-column bioreactor than constant light intensity. A fluctuating light intensity between 10 and 110 microE m(-2) s(-1), with a photoperiod of 14 h:10 h light:dark, was the best regime for growth giving 1430 mg biomass l(-1).