CHLOROPHYLLS, CAROTENOIDS, PROTEINS AND SECONDARY METABOLITES IN LEAVES OF 14 SPECIES OF MANGROVE

Chlorophyll a, b, a+b, a:b, carotenoids, TAN (Titrable Acid Number), p roteins, polyphenols, and tannin content of 14 species of mangroves vi z. Aegiceras corniculatum, Aglaia cucullata, Avicennia officinalis, Br uguiera parviflora, B. sexangula, Ceriops decandra, Cynometra iripa, E xcoecaria agallocha, Heritiera fomes, H. littoralis, H. macrophylla, K andelia candel, Rhizophora mucronata and Xylocarpus granatum found in the mangrove forests of Bhitarkanika and the Mahanadi delta of Orissa were estimated. Total chlorophyll content varied from 0.21% in A. cucu llata and C. decandra to 0.56% in A. corniculatum. Calculated chloroph yll a:b ratio was the minimum (1.55) in A. officinalis and the maximum (3.50) in B. sexangula. The carotenoids also varied from 0.04% in B. sexangula to 0.17% in A. corniculatum. Analysis of Variance showed int ra- and interspecific variations in photosynthetic activities. TAN val ues revealed appreciable variations from 20.00 to 45.00 in A. officina lis and H. littoralis respectively. TAN values showed negative correla tion with chlorophyll b and carotenoids, but highly significant positi ve correlation was noted with chlorophyll a:b ratio among the species. Total leaf protein content significantly varied from 12.21% in H. mac rophylla to 29.22% in H. fomes. The quantitative analysis of tannin an d polyphenols from the leaves of mangroves showed significant variatio n, 8.39% to 44.27% in A. cucullata and B. sexangula and 11.39% to 52.8 9% in A. officinalis and C. decandra respectively. Statistical analysi s of the endogenous level of polyphenols and tannins showed no interde pendence with leaf proteins.