GROWTH PERF ORMANCE OF RED SEAWEED (Kappaphycus striatum) IN VARYING TEMPERATURES UNDER LABORATORY CONDITION

This study evaluated the effects of temperature on the growth performance and recovery of Kappaphycus striatum under laboratory conditions. The study was conducted at College of Fisheries Laboratory and Research station, Brgy. Bawing, General Santos City. Samples Were collected from Bula Seaweed Farmers Association in cooperation with the BFAR Region XIl Twelve units of 1.2 L of glass jars were used as the experimental units. Each glass jar was filled with 900 ml of autoclaved seawater, which was initially fertilized with ammonium phosphate, and initially stocked with 2 grams of seaweeds thalli. Algal samples were initially dipped in providone iodone diluted in autoclaved seawater before the experiment. The experiment had four treatments, with three replicates. Thermostat was used to maintain the temperature levels of 25, 28, 31 and 34 °C. The study was laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The results showed that seaweeds subjected to 34° C exhibited color discoloration in the second week that led to eventual weight loss and mortality in the fourth week of the experiment. Bleached samples were immediately terminated. After 35 days of culture, Kuppaphycus striatum grew from 2 grams to 3.112, 3.18, and 3.07 g for Treatment I, II and III, respectively. SGR was highest in Treatment II with 1.328 %, followed by Treatment I with 1.258 % and Treatment III with 1.224 %,. In terms of daily growth, the highest result was obtained in Treatment II, followed by Treatment I then Treatment III, with 0.034, 0.032 and 0.031, respectively. The ANOVA result showed that there is significant difference (P<0.05) on the effect of temperature on the growth of Kappaphycus striatum with significantly better growth in Treatment II (28 ° C) than Treatment I (25 ) and Treatment III (31 C). While Treatment I and Treatment I showed no significant difference (P>0.05) with each other.