Seasonal variation in the growth of marine red alga <i>Asparagopsis delilei</i> <span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-IN">(Rhodophyta/ Bonnemaisoniales) from the Mandapam region, southeast coast of India</span>

Abstract

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-IN">The growth of <i>Asparagopsis delilei </i>and other seaweeds have been described from Putty and Valai Islands of Mandapam region from August 1993 to March 1995. At both the islands, plants started appearing on the reef from August, attained maximum growth during November - March and subsequently disappeared gradually from the reef. Antheridial and cystqcarpic plants and tetrasporic phase <i>(Falkenbergia) </i>of <i>Asparagopsis delilei</i> were recognised. A positive correlation was observed between length and fresh weight, whereas, negative correlation was observed between algal biomass and the environmental parameters such as salinity and temperature of seawater. Thirty-two taxa were found in association with <i>A. delilei </i>at both the islands. Of these, <i>Sargassum wightii </i>and <i>Chondrococcus &nbsp;hornemanii </i>were occurring throughout the study period. The results indicated good biomass of <i>A. delilei </i>can be harvested from these islands during its peak growth period December and January to meet our iodine requirements partially.</span>