Culture of marine red alga Kappaphycus striatum (Schmitz) Doty on the Saurashtra region, west coast of India

摘要

Apical fragments 1, 2 and 3 cm long of K. striatum were ideal as starting seed material for culture in laboratory, outdoor and field conditions, respectively. Vertically excised fragments through medullary tissue yielded maximum vegetative seed material and biomass. Initial wet weight versus culture volume ratio (g: l) for maximum growth, was 1:6.25. Comparatively high growth of the alga in outdoor culture was observed when it was planted in February and June at 23° to 30℃ temperature, and in enriched seawater which was renewed at 15 days intervals. Continuous exposure to low temperature between 13° and 23℃ and above 30℃ adversely affected the growth of the alga. Nearly, 360 g wet wt. m~(-2) area representing 1.4 g.l~(-1) biomass was produced in bench scale outdoor cultures in tank. Maximum growth of the alga in the tide pools of the sea was recorded at 0.1 m below the surface of the pool water, where it was covered by a water column of 0.1 m to 0.25 m during lowest low water of spring tides and 2.5 m to 3.9 m (3.4 ± 0.4m) during highest.high water of neap to spring tides. The alga produced maximum biomass of 4217% over initial with growth rate 2.5% to 7.17% d~(-1) during December to March. Coral stones were better substratum for firm attachment of this alga. During March, 21 % of the liberated carpospores and 51.5% of the liberated tetraspores germinated. The tetraspore germination was like that of Gelidium.