Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Studies on Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Collins and Hervey from Indian waters.

Volume 19 Issue 1&2

O. P. Mairh

Abstract

Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Collins and Hervey has been found to be restricted to the north Gujarat Coast and southeast coast of India. Sexual plants were found to occur in both the localities. However Falkenbergia bearing tetraspores has not been recorded so far from Gujarat Coast.

At Port Okha, plants begin to appear on the reef in the month of October November, attain normal morphology and maximum length in December and dry weight in January and then gradually disappear from the reef after April - May. In nature, plants appear to regenerate by vegetative means by persistant part of the rhizomaious branches and by the production of the propagules.

Shedding of carpospores was observed in April and shedding was completed within ten days in culture. Mode of shedding of carpospores, their germination in culture and in situ have also been studied.

Date : 30-12-1977