Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol4 / Issue 3 / 2014 / 131-132.
e - ISSN - 2249-7722
Print ISSN - 2249-7730
Department of Botany, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003
ABSTRACT
Estimation of chlorophyll a and b was carried out for 10 mangrove species collected from Visakhapatnam.
Young, intermediate and old leaves collected from two regions such as light and shade for this analysis. Chlorophyll a and b varied significantly among age of the leaves and light penetration. Significant variation was noticed in chlorophyll a and b in tiny mangrove species of Visakhapatnam.
Key words : Chlorophyll a and b, Mangrove species, Visakhapatnam.
INTRODUCTION
Mangrove populations of estuarine regions of
Andhra Pradesh were studied by several authors [1-4].
These authors discussed regarding the distribution and ecological studies of mangroves of the concerned ecosystems. Mangroves of Visakhapatnam coast was studied by venkanna et al [5] and Narasimha Rao [6]. In the present study at attempt has been made to understand the content of chlorophyll a and b in different species of mangroves of Visakhapatnam.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Mangrove ecosystem of Visakhapatnam lies between 17
0 14’ 30 1
and 17
0
45’ N longitudes, 83
0
16’ 25
1 and 83
0
21’ 30
1
E latitudes on the East Coast of India.
Meghadrigedda is a rain fed drain merges into Bay of
Bengal at inner harbour region and extends up to 2km towards the drain. Mangrove flora was sparse and comprises of 10 species. In the present study species such as Acanthus ilicifolius, Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Dalbergia horrida, Excoecaria agallocha,
Suaeda maritima, Suaeda monoica, Prosophis chilensis,
Sonneratia apetala and Anthrocnemum indicum were used for the estimation of Chlorophyll a and b.
For the experimental purpose leaves of mangrove species were collected from different places such as leaves which receive direct sun light as sun and which receive diffused light as shade leaves. To understand the distribution of chlorophyll content in leaves, leaves were categorized viz. Young, Intermediate and Old. Chlorophylls was estimated by the method described by Ong et al [7].
For chlorophyll estimation leaves were removed from the plant and immediately stored in ice for further analysis in laboratory. Analysis was completed within 48 h. Discs of 1 gram were cut out in triplicate from each type of leaf with a cork borer. Individual discs were homogenized with 5ml of 90% acetone containing 0.5g of magnesium carbonate in suspension and centrifuged for 10 min at 500rpm; another 5ml of 5% acetone was added and centrifuged for 10 min at 4000-5000 rpm. The supernatant was decanted into a cuvette and the chlorophyll was calculated by reading the absorbance at
664 and 647nm in a double beamed spectrophotometer.
Corresponding Author:Prayaga Murty P Email: pragada007@gmail.com
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Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol4 / Issue 3 / 2014 / 131-132.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table-1 shows the contents of the chlorophyll a and b in the mangrove species of Visakhapatnam. Among the 10 species used for determination of chlorophyll a and b, Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha, Suaeda monoica, Sonneratia apetala shows the highest content of chlorophyll a and b. Leaves under shaded as received diffused light shows the highest levels chlorophyll a and b than the leaves under direct sun light.
Simultaneously analysis with leaves of different age highest content of chlorophyll a and b in all species examined in the study. Between old and young leaves , old leaves have the more content of the chlorophyll a and b. Results of this study shows the more chlorophyll in the shaded leaves than the under direct sunlight . This is may be for the photosynthesis activity under shaded condition.
Results of this study agree with the results of Bunt [8],
Saenger [9]. Results of the different age leaves indicate that intermediate leaves are more productive than the shows that the leaves with intermediate age have the remaining aged leaves.
Table 1. Estimation of Chlorophyll a and b for the different mangrove species
Chlorophyll a
(Sun)
A.i A.m A.o D.h E.a S.m S.mo P.ch
Y 0.128 0.672 0.566 0.211 0.999 1.075 0.527 0.614
I 0.157 1.129 0.946 0.247 1.352 1.162 0.714 0.923
O 0.113 1.302 1.253 0.217 1.330 1.115 0.605 0.784
S.a
1.528
1.786
1.641
Ar.i
0.72
0.81
0.79
Chlorophyll a
(Shade)
Y 1.115 1.117 1.107 0.456 1.427 1.549 0.878 1.122
I 1.165 1.786 1.127 0.573 1.784 1.846 1.127 1.141
O 1.134 1.569 1.423 0.417 1.673 1.643 0.967 1.127
Y 0.113 0.324 0.872 0.707 1.214 0.871 0.378 0.573
2.107
2.142
2.111
1.632
0.91
1.12
0.74
0.84
Chlorophyll b
(Sun)
I 0.141 0.950 1.114 0.814 1.578 0.960 0.541 0.621
O 0.119 0.719 0.942 1.066 1.321 0.912 0.431 0.514
1.870
1.743
1.21
0.94
Chlorophyll b
(Shade)
Y 0.112 1.134 1.456 1.121 1.947 1.184 0.784 0.680
I 1.123 1.212 1.678 1.241 2.341 1.284 0.876 0.742
1.843
2.112
1.61
1.98
O 0.972 1.123 1.341 1.947 1.847 1.191 0.746 0.712 1.912 1.76
A.i
= Acanthus ilicifolius, A.m
= Avicennia marina, A.o = Avicennia officinalis, D.h = Dalbergia horrida, E.a= Excoecaria agallocha, S.m = Suaeda maritime, S.mo
= Suaeda monoica, P.ch = Prosophis chilensis, S.a = Sonneratia apetala, Ar.i
= Anthrocnemum indicum
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