VARIATIONS IN D-ASPARTATE CONTENT WITH SEASON AND PART OF HIZIKIA-FUSIFORMIS

D-Aspartate content in the marine alga Hizikia fusiformis was determin ed in various seasons and different parts of the alga. D-Aspartate con tent varied seasonally; it was high from late autumn to early spring a nd low in summer. The content also differed among various parts of the alga; it was generally high in the adhesive root and main branch, whi le the content in the blade was less than half that in the adhesive ro ot. The content in the receptacle which was obtained from the August s ample showed a level similar to that in the adhesive root and the main branch. These results suggest that free D-aspartate may play an impor tant role in the early stage of growth of H. fusiformis.