Studies on Gracilaria verrucosa (Hudson) Papenfuss of Chilka lake, east coast of India.
1991
Adhikary S.P.
It has been found that occurrence of Gracilaria verrucosa in the estuarine habitat of Chilka lake corresponds to specific physico-chemical features. Generally the seaweed occurs where (1) water temperature is between 22-26 deg.C, (2) salinity is above 12%, (3) circulation of water is sufficient to prevent siltation but not sweep the plants away, and (4) substratum is firm, preferably a sand mud mixture with organic content and exposed shells and stones to provide attachment for spores. Increase in population density commensurate with increase in salinity and temperature of the lagoon. The peak period of growth of cystocarpic plant is in March when the salinity is moderate. Tetrasporic plants occur in abundance during early June at higher depths when the salinity is optimum. The reproductive cycle shows that carpospore production continues throughout the year except for a short period (September to October). A simple inexpensive method for mass cultivation of G. verrucosa in Chilka lake has been devised. Cultivation induces in the plant better quality of gel and higher agar yield than the natural variety thus showing the possibility of their use in industry.
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