Abstract
The present study was carried out on phenological observations and reproductive characteristics including seed development, maturation and number of days taken for produce mature propagules/seeds by the selected two important mangrove species Rhizophora mucronata . Prior Bruguiera cylindrical (L) Blume ofthe family Rhizophoraceae. An interesting adaptation noticed in true mangroves is that or those belonging to the family Rhizhophoraceae reproduce through a unique biological phenomenon called vivipary. In this mode of reproduction in the post fertilization the zygotes stay on the mother plant for a period 3-7 months until they mature in to seedlings or commonly called as propagules. The physiological maturity of seeds generally determined on the basis of accumulation of higher dry weight with maximum germination. In Rhizophora macronata physiological maturity of seed determined as 14th weeks after anthesis. The moisture content of the seed was decreased to with increase of dry weight. In Brugeiera cylindrica, the harvestable maturity can be fixed on 12th weeks after anthesis. It was based on the maximum dry weight. 2.4 gm with minimum fresh weight of 4.09 gm. The germination percentage of seeds was also maximum during that period.Seed maturation studies of Rhizophora mucronata indicate that the best collection time prevails from April to June and in Bruguiera cylindrica the best seed collection time prevails from May to July.
Highlights
Mangroves are halophytes occurring in saline marshy places
The present study was carried out on phenological observations and reproductive characteristics including seed development, maturation and number of days taken for produce mature propagules/seeds by the selected two important mangrove species Rhizophora mucronata
Uniqueness of mangrove ecosystem is that the biota is constantly under physiological stress caused by extreme conditions, mangroves have been successfully colonized by developing morphological, reproductive and physiological adaptations like pneumatophores, prop roots still roots and viviparous germination which facilities their growth in aquatic environment (Tomlinson,1986) Arunprasath and Gomathinayagam(2014) reported the phenology, reproductive biology and storage studies of five true mangrove species of Pichavaram mangrove forests of Tamil nadu
Summary
Mangroves are halophytes occurring in saline marshy places. The word “mangroves” is considered to be a combination of the Portuguese word “mangue” and the English word “grove”. Uniqueness of mangrove ecosystem is that the biota is constantly under physiological stress caused by extreme conditions, mangroves have been successfully colonized by developing morphological, reproductive and physiological adaptations like pneumatophores, prop roots still roots and viviparous germination which facilities their growth in aquatic environment (Tomlinson,1986) Arunprasath and Gomathinayagam(2014) reported the phenology , reproductive biology and storage studies of five true mangrove species of Pichavaram mangrove forests of Tamil nadu. A detailed phytosociological and floristic composition of two natural mangrove vegetation including the study site Ayiramthengu of Kollam district was reported (Sekaran et al, 2015). The scope of the present study is to analyse the various phonological and reproductive characteristics of two mangrove species in Ayiramthengu mangrove forest of Kollam district for developing a data which could be of help the forest managers in planning to regenerate the species of the mangrove forest
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