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ORGANIC CONSTITUENTS IN LEAVES OF 9 MANGROVE SPECIES OF ORISSA COAST, INDIA

U.C.BASAK, A.B.DAS AND P.DAS

Abstract: Photosynthetic pigments, TAN (Titrable Acid Number), proteins, polyphenols and tannin con leaves of 9 species of mangroves viz., Acanthus ilicifolius, A. ebracteatus, A. volubilis, Brownlowia tersa, Bruguiera cylindrica, B. gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora apiculata and Xylocarpus mekongensis found in the mangrove forests of Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi delta of Orissa were estimated chlorophyll content varied from 0.16% in B. tersa to 1.05 % in A. volubilis. Calculated chlorophyIl a:b ratio was minimum (1.23) in C. rugal and maximum (3.85) in A. ilicifolius. The carotenoids as accessory pi also varied from 0.08% in B. rersa to 0.76% in A. ilicifolius. Analysis of variance showed inti interspecific variations in photosynthetic activities. TAN values revealed appreciable variations from 2 32.86 in B. gymnorrhiza and A. ilicifolius, respectively. TAN values showed negative correlatio chlorophyll band carotenoids but highly significant positive correlation was noted with chlorophyIl a among the species. Total buffer soluble protein content in leaf varied significantly from 13.26 % B. cylindrica to 21.05% in X. mekongensis. The quantitative analysis of tannin and polyphenols from the of mangroves showed significant variation ranging from 14.56% to 40.11 % in X. mekongensis and C. tagal and 15.65 % to 38.64 % in A. volubilis and C. tagal, respectively. Statistical analysis of the endogenous polyphenols and tannins showed no interdependence with leaf proteins.

Mangrove Research Centre, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar 751015, Orissa, India.