GROWTH-RATE, CARRAGEENAN YIELD AND GEL PROPERTIES OF CULTURED KAPPA-CARRAGEENAN PRODUCING RED ALGA KAPPAPHYCUS-ALVAREZII (DOTY) DOTY IN THESUBTROPICAL WATERS OF SHIKOKU, JAPAN

Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty from the Philippines was grown in th e subtropical waters of Shikoku Is., Japan (33-degrees-26'35'' N, 133- degrees-25'00'' E). The growth rate, carrageenan yield, viscosity and gel strength were compared to values for plants cultured in the Philip pines and between spring-summer, autumn-winter and winter periods in J apan. Maximum daily growth rates up to 8% occurred in Japan in October to November (autumn) while die-back occurred in winter due to low sea water temperature (15-degrees-C). The average growth rate (ca 5%) in s pring-summer to autumn was comparable to that in the Philippines. Duri ng the winter (December), the daily growth rate was approximately 1%. Gel strength, determined in a 1.5% solution in both water and 0.2% KCl , was 850 g cm-2 and 2000 g cm-2 , respectively. Sol viscosity was 890 cP at 75-degrees-C. These values are quite similar to values obtained in the Philippines.