DAILY GROWTH RATE AND AGAR YIELD OF TISSUE CULTURE SEAWEED Gracilaria verrucosa ON FIELD PROPAGATION

Sri Redjeki Hesti Mulyaningrum* and Rohama Daud
Research Institute For Coastal Aquaculture
Jl. Makmur Dg. Sitakka No. 129, Maros 90511, South Sulawesi
E-mail : titut_suryanto@yahoo.com

 

 

Some efforts to provide seaweed seed Gracilaria verrucosa have been a considered, one of the efforts was tissue culture method. Propagation of tissue culture seaweed seed on field is necessary to ensure the sustainable of seed availability. This study aimed to evaluate the daily growth rate and agar yield of tissue culture seaweed seed in field propagation.

The research was conducted during March-November 2014. Seaweed seed propagation was executed on pond using long line method in nine cycles of cultivation with 30 days duration of each cycle. Monitoring of daily growth rate (DGR), agar yield and water quality was done every 15 days. Growth measurement was done by weighing of 25% of the total amount seaweed lines. Agar yield was analyzed in 3 replicates by random sampling of seaweed taken from some lines. Data were analyzed descriptively and represented in graph.

The highest DGR was obtained on April (6.01%/day) and the lowest one was 1.26%/day on September. During March-August seaweed grew well, but it decreased during September-November (Fig.1).  The weather was being factor could be responsible for reduction in biomass of tissue culture seaweed. Agar yield was 10.30-27.84% in range. The highest agar yield was 27.84% on April and the lowest one was 10.30% on March (Fig.2). Present study showed that tissue culture seaweed could be an alternative seed for cultivation activity.