Growth, reproduction and sporulation of marine alga Gelidium pusillum(Stackhouse) Le Jolis

Seasonal aspects of growth. reproduction and spore output in G. pusillum growing (Sept. I 976-Feb. 1979) at Visakhapatnam coast were described. Plants occurred throughout the year with maximum growth in Sept. and Oct. and minimum between Jan. and April. Tetrasporophytes were predominant over the cystocarpic plants and seasonality was not observed in the abundance of these fruiting plants. Under laboratory conditions tetraspore and carpospore shedding was maximum on the 1st d and spore output gradually decreased from 2nd d onwards. Seasonal variations were not observed in the formation of sori and discharge of spores.