INVESTIGATION OF BACTERIAL EPIPHYTES OF THE AGAR-PRODUCING RED SEAWEED GRACILARIA-GRACILIS (STACKHOUSE) STEENTOFT, IRVINE ET FARNHAM FROM SALDANHA BAY, SOUTH-AFRICA AND LUDERITZ, NAMIBIA

A large number of culturable bacterial epiphytes were isolated from th e agarophyte Gracilaria gracilis (Stackhouse) Steentoft, Irvine et Far nham. Most of these bacteria were Gram negative, motile rods, and many were classified to genus level. Scanning electron microscopy confirme d that a large epiphytic population of coccoid and rod-shaped bacteria occur primarily on the main thalli of the plant. Of the total number of isolates examined, 34% were highly agarolytic. The agarolytic and p roteolytic activity of these bacterial epiphytes suggests that they ma y be pathogenic to G. gracilis.