Available Online at http://www.recentscientific.com International Journal of CODEN: IJRSFP (USA) Recent Scientific

International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Research Vol. 12, Issue, 02 (C), pp. 40937-40939, February, 2021 ISSN: 0976-3031 DOI: 10.24327/IJRSR Research Article

ECO-PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SELECTED COASTLINE FLORA OF ISLANDS,

Ansarali, K.C1* and Abdussalam, A.K2

1Part Time- Category-B, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, TamilNadu 2Department of Botany, Sir Syed College, , , , India

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2021.1202.5795

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: Lakshadweep archipelago is a small group of islands in the consisting of 36 islands among them only 10 islands are inhabited. The vegetation is typical Indo-Pacific coral island Received 14th November, 2020 th flora. The present study is based on field survey and laboratory analysis of selected flora. The study Received in revised form 29 reveals that there is significant variation in stress physiology among plants grown in the area of high December, 2020 salinity. It is also noticed, massive destruction of shoreline vegetation in the islands are very high Accepted 05th January, 2021 th due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Soil erosion also very high in islands and this leads to Published online 28 February, 2021 declination of coastal vegetation as well.

Key Words:

Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea, Eco- Physiology, Coastline flora, Littoral vegetation

Copyright © Ansarali, K.C and Abdussalam, A.K, 2021, this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided

the original work is properly cited.

INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS

Lakshadweep, India’s smallest is an archipelago The present study is an attempt to document the common consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sqkm. Located coastline plants of Lakshadweep islands and assess their eco- between80-12013” North latitude and 710-740 East longitude, physiological adaptations. Study area are, Agatti,Amini, 220 to 440 Km away from the coastal city of , Kerala. , , Chetlat, Kadmat, , ,, and This Uni-district union territory comprises of 17 , 3 reefs, (Inhabited islands). Bangaram, Cheriyam, Kalpitti, 6 submerged banks and 10 inhabited islands. As per 2011 Kodithala, Tilakkam I, Tilakkam II, Tilakkam III, I, Pitti census, the inhabited islands had a total population of 64,429 II, Parali I, Parali II, Parali III, Suheli Valiyakara, Suheli and population density is 2013 person per sqkm. The Cheriyakara, Thinnakara, and (Uninhabited islands). vegetation is typical of Indo-Pacific atoll coral island flora. There is no declared forest in Lakshadweep, but 80% of its land Field visit was conducted to these islands from October 2016 to mass is covered by green vegetation mainly with coconut trees. November 2020 in different intervals. The availability of ship The physiography of Lakshadweep islands supports rich costal conveyance facility during June to October is very less to move flora and the natural vegetation. The natural flora falls under around islands. To meet the objectives of the present study, littoral and strand vegetation. Plants establishing on coastal plant specimens were collected separately from allislands. The sandy areas are subjected to several environmental fluctuations collected specimens with identifiable features were brought to which affect their growth, survival and community structure. the laboratory. They were then identified following standard The littoral regions are evergreen in nature, adaptable to manuals and further confirmed with the help of experts in perpetual physiological drought due to high salinity of soil Angiosperm Taxonomy. Plants from Agatti and Kalpeni water, strong wind, sandy nature, with poor nitrogen. The Islands were selected for the eco-physiological analysis sandy vegetation is mainly composed of herbaceous flora with because these islands are the farthest each other among other creepers, whereas backshore areas are dominated by medium islands. The anatomy and physiology tests of the selected plant sized trees and bushes. species were carried out in the Department of Post Graduate studies in Botany, Sir Syed College, Taliparamba. The lists of

*Corresponding author: Ansarali, K.C Part Time- Category-B, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, TamilNadu Ansarali, K.C and Abdussalam, A.K., ECO-Physiological Studies Onselectedcoastline flora of Lakshadweep Islands, India plants with their scientific names, followed by Local names Morinda citrifolia Molookka, Ahi Rubiaceae Shrub (first common to all islands and second only to Minicoy pandanus odorifer Kaitha.Makashikeyo Pandanaceae Shrub Pemphis acidula Sheruthalam, Kuredi Lythraceae Shrub Island), family and habit given in Table: 1. Photographs of Senna occidentalis Thakara, Dhiguthiyara Fabaceae Shrub selected species for the eco-physiological analysis is given in Premna serratifolia Beachmulla, Ginavely Lamiaceae Shrub results and discussion part. Eco-Physiological analysis of Scaevola sericea Kanni, Maagh Goodeniaceae Shrub selected plant species given in Table: 2. Spinifex littoreus Mulli, Elikkeni Poaceae Creeper Suriana maritime Sholom, Halaveli Surianiaceae Shrub Thespesia populnea Sheerani, Theerani Malvaceae Tree RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Thuarea involute Fadala Poaceae Creeper

Lakshadweep islands’ littoral vegetation mainly consist of 25 Eco-Physiological Analysis species belonging to 25 genera and 21families. Cyperaceae is the most common and dominant family with 3 species in sandy A number of abiotic stresses, such as drought, heat, heavy littoral area, followed by Poaceae (2), Rubiaceae (2), and 18 metals, soil salinity, flooding, and cold, are responsible for the families were represented by single species only. The habit of reduction of the growth, development, and productivity of the littoral species includes: creepers-5, shrubs-11, Trees-5, and plants globally. Being situated in the Arabian Sea the littoral 4 herbs. The present investigation indicates that the study area water of Lakshadweep contains high salinity than the inland preserves a rich flora with high number of native coastline water. Main salts in the sea water are the chlorides, sulphates plants. Moreover, the different vegetation formations together and carbonates of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. with the sand field geomorphologic heterogeneity provide a Sodium is the most predominant cation and chloride is the wide variety of environmental conditions and habitat types that predominant anion. support a diverse native fauna like Crabs, Lizards etc. The As a consequence, ion toxicity, lead to chlorosis and necrosis, conservation of native vegetation of the littoral zone is a mainly due to Na+ accumulation that interferes with many priority to conserve the integrity of the natural communities in physiological processes in plants. The harmful effect of salinity the coastal region. can vary depending on climatic conditions, light intensity, plant species or soil conditions. Most salinity adaptive mechanisms in plants are accompanied by certain morphological and anatomical changes. Under high saline conditions, plants have to activate different physiological and biochemical mechanisms in order to cope with the resulting stress. Such mechanisms include changes in morphology, anatomy, water relations, photosynthesis, the hormonal profile, toxic ion distribution and biochemical adaptation.

A1 A2 Some important salt resistance mechanisms are ion homeostasis, stomatal regulation, ion compartmentalization, osmoregulation/osmotic adjustment, hormonal balance changes, stimulation of the antioxidative defense mechanism, and the accumulation/exclusion of toxic ions from cells and tissues. Leaf growth was found to be significantly reduced due to the salinity variation among islands. Plants showed reduced leaf area but comparatively less retardation in leaf growth was observed in Kalpeni Island compared to that in .

B1 B2 Stomatal index of plants grown in Kalpeni and Agatti showed significant changes. High salinity areas of Kalpeni Island Photographs: Pemphis acidula L. (A1 Kalpeni & A2 Agatti); Premna serratifolia (B1 Kalpeni &B2 Agatti) resulted in significant decrease of stomatal index in the lower epidermis in comparison with that of Agatti Island, whereas Table 1 List of Selected Littoral flora of Lakshadweep stomatal index of upper epidermis remained almost unchanged.

Scientific Name Local Name Family Habit Dry weight distribution of leaf tissue of bothplants assessed Fonnummathiram, and only negligible fluctuations were observed in the Argemone mexicana Papaveraceae Shrub Zaggoom distribution of dry matter content of leaves of the plants. The Calotropis gigantean Erukk, Ruvaa Apocynaceae Shrub increase in the proline content during developmental stages of Cassytha filiformis Fashakka, Muthiveyu Lauraceae Climber Vine Cassuarina equisitefolia Shabook, Fithuroanu Casuarinaceae Tree leaves was highly significant in plants of Kalpeni Island Cocos nucifera Thengu, Divehi ruva Arecaceae Tree compared to the Agatti Island plants. Cordia subcordata Nadan Theykku, Kauani Boraginaceae Tree Cucumis prophetarum Kaippakka, Cucurbitaceae Creeper vine It is believed that Salt-tolerant species show increased or Cyperus javanicus Kayyani,Haie Cyperaceae Shrub unchanged chlorophyll content under salinity conditions, Datura metal Kariummathiram, Orheni Solanaceae Herb whereas chlorophyll levels decrease in salt-sensitive species. Fimbristylis cymosa Mulli, Thoosippul Cyperaceae Herb Compared to the Agatti Island plants, the chlorophyll a and b Guettarda speciosa Shemmal, Unigas Rubiaceae Shrub Heliotropium contents were reduced in the plants of the Kalpeni Island and Thaamara, Boshie Boraginanceae Tree foertherianum the a/b ratio remained unchanged. Phenolic content of leaf Ipomoea pes-caprae Adumb, Kadambu ConvolvulaceaeCreeper Vine tissue of Kalpeni Island plants show slight variation in Launaea sarmentosa Fappul, kadafai Asteraceae Creeper comparison with the Agatti Island plants. Mariscus pedunculatus Mullichedi Cyperaceae Herb

40938 | P a g e International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 12, Issue, 02 (C), pp. 40937-40939, February, 2021

Table 2 Eco-physiological analysis

Stomatal Index Chlorophyll content Name of Dry Weight Prolin Phenolics Peroxidase Native Leaf Area Lower Upper Plant Distribution Content Chl.a Chl.b Chl.a,b Total content activity epidermis epidermis 1.78±0.10 23.97±1.03 Kalpeni 276.9±3.67 31.18±1.70 23.65±1.54 17.77±0.04 0.407±0.01 1.49±0.07 0.86±0.02 1.63±0.07 2.27±0.13 Pemphis (4.67±0.16) Acidula 31.36±1.02 Agatti 293.2±4.20 41.23±1.82 25.70±1.48 19.21±0.07 0.311±0.02 1.84±0.10 0.93±0.05 1.97±0.05 2.77±0.16 1.95±0.20 (3.06±0.20) 135.7±8.20 Kalpeni 621.3±2.10 61.13±1.50 46.25±1.24 26.82±0.03 0.915±0.02 0.72±0.02 0.43±0.01 1.67±0.04 1.15±0.07 3.12±0.15 Premna (6.54±0.12) serratifolia 21.43±0.96 Agatti 747.8±2.40 81.37±1.45 53.25±1.20 31.18±0.05 0.785±0.01 0.91±0.02 0.42±0.02 2.16±0.09 1.33±0.08 3.49±0.22 (3.45±0.12)

(Values in parenthesis are specific activity) Values are mean of 5 replicates ±standard error) Guaiacol peroxidase activity of the leaf was feeble. Plants of 2. Mannadiar MS. Lakshadweep Gazetteer of India. Kalpeni Island exhibited significant hike in the peroxidise Coimbatore.1977. activity during all developmental stages in the leaf tissue than 3. Rao TA, Ellis JL. Flora of Lakshadweep Islands of the the plants of Agatti Islands (Table: 2). , Peninsular India with emphasis on phytogeographical distribution of plants. J. Econ. Tax. References Bot. 1995; 19(1): 235-250. 1. Bhargavavn P, Nair VJ. In: Floristic diversity and 4. Reddy CS, Roy PS.Plant Diversity of Lakshadweep conservation strategies in India.1999. Islands. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh.2011. 5. Sivadasan M, Joseph KT. A botanical trip to Lakshadweep. Bull. Bot. Surv. India. 1981. 23: 65-68. 6. Wadhwa BM. Additions to the flora of Laccadives, Minicoy and Amindives. Bull. Bot. Surv. India. 1961. 3: 407-408. 7. Willis JC. Notes on the flora of Minicoy. Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya. 1901. 1: 39-43.

How to cite this article:

Ansarali, K.C and Abdussalam, A.K.2021, ECO-Physiological Studies Onselectedcoastline flora of Lakshadweep Islands, India. Int J Recent Sci Res. 12(02), pp. 40937-40939. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2021. 1202.5795

*******

40939 | P a g e