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PHENOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION IN BRUGUIERA CYLINDRICA (L.) BLUME

Chapter · February 2013

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Zoological Survey
of India, 1916

Zool. Surv. India

Mangroves in India : Biodiversity, Protection and Environmental Services, 2010 : 267-272.

PHENOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION IN BRUGUIERA

CYLINDRICA (L.) BLUME

P. SOPHIA, B. NAGARAJAN, M. KRISHNAMOORTHY AND C. PANDIARAJAN

Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, P.B. 1061, Coimbatore - 641 002.
E-mail : sophiaponraj@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Bruguiera cylindrica is an endangered mangrove taxon cited in the red list of IUCN.
Studies on phenology, reproduction and phenotypic expression were carried out along
Eastern and Western coasts of India. In East Coast it is found as large shrubs (up to 3
meters), however, in the west coast they are found as moderate sized trees growing up to
10 meters. Both the sites phenomenally vary in phenology, flowering periodicity,
propagule characteristics and reproductive success. The inflorescence is a cyme and
flower life is over and pollen production is high with a moderate seed to ovule ratio. B.
cylindrica is pollinated by thrips. Pollen size is very small (16 -18 µm) with high fertility up
to 90%. After fertilization fruits mature within 8-10 weeks. Reproductive success is higher
in B. cylindrica compared to other related taxa. Conservation strategies of the species in
East and West Coast are discussed in detail.
Keywords : B. cylindrica, East coast, Phenology, Pollen fertility, West Coast,
Reproductive Success

INTRODUCTION
Mangroves are a group of salt tolerant plant species that occur in the tropical and
subtropical inter-tidal estuarine regions, sheltered coast lines and creeks. Bruguiera is the
largest genus in Rhizophoraceae and occurs globally in restricted patches. In India three
species namely B. cylindrica, B. gymnorrhiza and B. sexangula have been documented in
the East Coast, West Coast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Rao et al., 1999). B.
cylindrica occurs both in East and West Coast regions and is a repository of marked infra-
specific variations. It is reportedly known to flower during the South West Monsoon
seasons in the East Coast and throughout the year in Kerala (Rajendran and Sanjeevi, 2004).
In B. cylindrica no comprehensive studies have been made in the past to quantify
phenological variations at individual and population levels. Also, no information is available
on the reproductive success. These are of extreme value while identifying Genetically
Diverse Hotspots (GDHS) within a species. No mangroves detailed to quantify phenological
268 MANGROVES IN INDIA : BIODIVERSITY, PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

variation, at individual and population levels are very few. Hence, a preliminary study was
conducted on phenology, flowering periodicity, propagule characteristics and Pre Emergent
Reproductive Success (PERS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study sites
Two study sites namely Pitchavaram, Tamil Nadu (East Coast) and Ernakulam, Kerala
(West Coast) were selected for the study. The details are given in Table 1.
Target species
B. cylindrica grows up to about 10 m tall, but often less crown conical at first but later
more irregular; much branched, stem base occasionally buttressed; under ground roots
producing numerous knee-roots. B. cylindrica producing ovoid fruits, reddish green in
colour, one seeded, exhibiting vivipary hypocotyl elongate and piercing the apex of the
fruit. It has been recorded to flower in different parts of the year across different latitudes.
Studies were carried out in two B. cylindrica populations for three consecutive years in
the East and West Coasts of the country (Table 1). Observations on flower behaviour, floral
biology, pollinator visit and fruit development were made in forty individuals in each of the
said locations. Observations were made on number of flowers produced, flower size, and
anthesis according to standard procedures (Dafni, 2002). Pollen fertility was estimated by
using cytoplasmic differential staining method (Alexander, 1969). Pollen morphology and
size were sampled and studied according to Radford et al., 1974). Pollen count was made
for ten different individuals using standard procedures described by Cruden (1969). Pre-
Emergent Reproductive Success (PERS) was calculated using according to Wiens et al.
(1987).
Table 1. Details of study sites in East and West coasts.
Name of the location Pitchavaram, Tamil Nadu Ernakulam, Kerala
Geographical position 11º 24’N, 79º 47’E 8º 18’N, 77º 22’E
Total mangrove area 1,100 ha 50 km2
Annual mean range temperature 20°C - 37°C 20°C - 38°C
Vegetation type Deltaic mangrove Non Deltaic mangrove

RESULTS
Phenology
In Pitchavaram reproductive buds emerge in the month of January and fruits are
matured by October. Within a cyme always the middle flower opens first. In Ernakulam
flowering initiates by late September and fruits are matured by May. The mean value of
SOPHIA et al., : Phenology and reproduction in Bruguiera cylindrica (L.) 269

height, stem size, crown size and total number of propagules per tree given in Table 2. In
West Coast the habit is large, flowering is profuse and the propagule size is larger while in
east coast flowerings scanty and habit size is small.

Fig. 1a. B. cylindrica in full bloom

Fig. 1b. B. cylindrica propagules

270 MANGROVES IN INDIA : BIODIVERSITY, PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Table 2. Details of habit and life history characteristics in B. cylindrica in East and West
coasts of India.
S. Characteristics East Coast* West Coast*
No.
1. Height (M) 1.69–2.50 8.0–12.0
2. Stem size (cm) 12.0–18.0 65.0–80.0
3. Crown size ( M ) 0.69–1.0 2.0–3.50
4. Flowers/reproductive. shoot 12.0–18 36.0–50
5. Propagules/ tree 83.0–100 157–300
6. Length of propagule (cm) 5.6–6.0 16.0–18.0
7. Breadth of Propagules (cm) 0.4–0.5 0.6–0.7
(N= 50), (* - Range values)

Floral biology
Flowers are borne in solitary cyme, unbranched, in axils of leaves in opposite nodes.
Flowers are up to 4-5 mm long, actionmorphic, calyx greenish white in colour, sepals are
fused basally to form a prominent calyx. Petals alternate with calyx and each enclose a pair
of stamens. Ovary is semi inferior, inserted within and fused with calyx cup. Stigma is wet
bifid or trifid, and projected above anthers. Flowers are mildly scented which is an
attractant to thrips and last for 3-6 days.
Pollen and ovule numbers
Pollen production did not vary significantly among locations or populations. A single
anther produces nearly 1700 pollen grains. Each flower produces about 16400 pollen grains
of which about 15% were deformed or lacked cytoplasm and appeared inviable in the East
coast region with pollen varies 14-16 µm. B. cylindrica is pollinated by thrips. Only one of
the ovules develop in to a seedling. Mean fruit set is as high as 30% indicating higher levels
of selfing. The Propagules produced in the west coast populations are significantly larger
and heavier than the east coast populations.
Table 3. Reproductive success in B. cylindrica in Pitchavaram (N=40).
Flower/Fruit ratio Seed/Ovule ratio PERS *
0.30 0.25 0.07
(*Wiens et al. 1987)

DISCUSSION

Studies and detailed information on reproductive success at individual tree and

population level are not available in any of the mangrove species in India. In mangroves the
SOPHIA et al., : Phenology and reproduction in Bruguiera cylindrica (L.) 271

high level of hetrozygosity within population confirms random movement of pollen

(Lakshmi et al., 2001). Bruguiera species have explosive pollen release to trigger by insects
in small flowered species and birds in the large flowered species (Tomlinson, 1979). We
observed that in the East Coast populations B. cylindrica pollinated by thrips has 85% pollen
fertility. But there is a need to document more information on plant pollinator interaction.
Generally only one ovule develops in to seedling among six or four ovules this may due to
inadequate fertilization, expression of lethal alleles in fertilized embryos, competition among
sibling embryos and preferential maternal invesment (Fenner and Thompson, 2005). Based
on total output of flowers, fruits and seeds the species has high reproductive fitness.
Problems occur only during the post zygotic phases where in propagules fail to establish in
to seedlings. Further high level of pollen sterility could lead to genetic bottleneck. The
process of gamet development, pollination, endosperm and embryo development and other
reproductive features can provide important clues regarding the reproductive constraints of
plants that need conservation (Moza and Bhatnagar 2007). Based on the unique phenological
behaviour we conclude that the populations in East coast and West coast could be
genetically very different populations.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work is an out put of the project “Population Structure and Reproduction in
Bruguiera and Ceriops: Implication on Conservation” funded by MoEF Govt.of India. We
thank Director General ICFRE and Director, IFGTB for their kind support and
encouragement. We are grateful to PCCF Tamil Nadu Forest Department for supporting
our field studies.

REFERENCES

Alexander, M.P., 1969. Differential staining of aborted and non aborted pollen. Stain
Technology, 44 : 117-122.
Cruden, R.W., 1969. Pollen-ovule ratios: a conservative indicator of breeding systems in
flowering plants. Evolution, 31 : 32-46.
Dafni, A., 1992. Pollination Ecology A Practical Approach. Oxford University Press Oxford,
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Fenner, M. and Thompson K., 2005. The ecology of seeds. Cambridge University Press,
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Lakshmi, M., Parani, M., and Ajay Parida, 2001. Genetic diversity in species of Indian
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 272 MANGROVES IN INDIA : BIODIVERSITY, PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

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