GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF TISSUE CULTURE RED SEAWEED Kappaphycus alvarezii SEEDLING AT VID BANGIR BAY, TUAL, MOLUCCAS PROVINCE, INDONESIA  

This study aimed to investigate the growth performance of red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii seedlings produced through tissue culture method. The seedlings were obtained from Marine Aquaculture Centre, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara and was cultured in the territorial waters of Vid Bangir Bay, Tual City for the period of June-July 2015.

The results showed that average weight of the initial (W₀) of 50 grams increased to the final weight (W_t) of 368.50±7.47 grams for the duration of thirty day.  Specific growth rate (SGR) ranged from 6.53% to 6.76%. The appearance of seedlings was bright colored, fresh and healthy with many forms of thallus.  There was no "ice-ice" disease and epiphyte attached during the observation period.  Moreover, water quality parameters were at acceptable ranges.