Experimental cultivation of <em>Gelidium pusillum</em> in open sea along the south east Indian coast

Abstract

Experimental cultivation of <em>Gelidium pusillum</em> was attempted in the south east coast of India with three different cultivation methods to enhance the biomass production for obtaining superior quality agar with high gel strength. The maximum biomass yield (0.465 ± 0.34 kg.fr.wt m^-2) was recorded in net bag method whereas minimum biomass yield (0.144 ±0.03 kg.fr.wt m^-2) was recorded by net pouch method. Similarly, Daily Growth Rate (DGR) was more in net bag method (1.05 ± 0.529 %) than raft (0.679 ± 0.13 %) and net pouch (0.56 ± 0.256 %). Furthermore, best quality agar was obtained by net bag method [high gel strength: 2100 ± 50 g cm^-2 in 1.5 % gel; gelling temperature: 35 ± 1 ^oC; ash content: ≤1 %; sulphate content: ≤0.34 %] essential for potential superior quality agar applications.