SEASONAL-CHANGES IN ORGANIC-CONSTITUENTS IN LEAVES OF 9 MANGROVE SPECIES

Seasonal variations in protein, polyphenol and tannin concentrations i n leaves of nine mangrove species of Rhizophoraceae (Bruguiera cylindr ica, B. gymnorrhiza, B. parviflora, B. sexangula, Ceriops decandra, C. tagal, Kandelia candel, Rhizophora apiculata and R. mucronata) are re ported. Mean protein concentration varied from 0.108 g g(-1) dry wt in B. cylindrica to 0.231 g g(-1) dry wt in B. sexangula; mean polypheno l concentration ranged from 0.111 g g(-1) dry wt in B. sexangula to 0. 488 g g(-1) dry wt in C. decandra, and mean tannin concentration from 0.088 g g(-1) dry wt in B. dry wt in B. sexangula. Concentrations of t hese organic constituents in leaf parviflora to 0.408 g g(-1) dry wt i n B. sexangula. Concentrations of these organic constituents in leaf t issues were highest during the rainy season: Bruguiera sexangula had t he highest concentration of protein (0.291 g g(-1) dry wt) and tannin (0.441 g g(-1) dry wt) and C. decandra the highest concentration of po lyphenols (0.528 g g(-1) dry wt). Significant variation in organic con stituents was observed among the species in different seasons and prot ein concentration was negatively correlated with polyphenols and tanni n.