Growth, Phenology and Spore Shedding in Gracilaria arcuata var. arcuata (Zanardini) Umamaheswara Rao & G. corticata var. cylindrica ( J . Agardh) Umamaheswara Rao (Rhodophyta)

Maximum development of plants occurs in the intertidal region at Kilakarai, southeast mast of India, during March-April and Jan.-Feb. in (i. arcuara var. orcuara and from Nov. to Feb. in G. corticota var. cylindrica. Tetrasporic plants are abundant almost throughout the year in both algae. Peak shedding of spores occurs during the maximum growth period in G. orcuota var. arcuoro while seasonal variations are not observed in the discharge of spores in G. corricata var. cylindrica. Monthly output of tetraspores and carpospores varies from 43 19 28,291 and from 10 to 40,055 spores g ^-1 fr wt in G. arcuoro var. orcuaro and G. corricoro var. cylindrica respectively. There is no definite rhythm in diurnal output in these algae.