Keeping in mind the growing need for alternative bionutrition resources, some mangrove fruits are popularized for their edible and medicinal properties. Nutritional and antioxidant point of view, there is no concrete report on mangrove fruits. Therefore, the present study was attempted to assess nutritional parameters viz. moisture, protein, total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, carotenoid, fiber, ash and ascorbic acid in mangrove fruits of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Rhizophora apiculata and Kandelia candel and elemental and antioxidant analysis of the same. Fruit of K. candel exhibited highest level of three nutritional parameters i.e protein, total sugar and non-reducing sugar content (15.6±1.11 mg/g fwt, 396.67±4.16 mg/g fwt, 383.93±3.57 mg/g fwt. respectively) whereas lowest amount was observed in B. gymnorrhiza (4.4±0 mg/g fwt for protein and 108±6.9 mg/g fwt. for total sugar and 103.86±6.81 mg/g fwt. for non-reducing sugar). The reducing sugar and fiber content were ranged from 4.13±0.23 mg/g fwt. to 27.00±1.0 mg/g fwt and 0.7581±0.006 g/g dry wt. to 0.8061±0.001 g/g dry wt. respectively. Furthermore, the moisture and ash content was highest in B. gymnorrhiza and lowest in R. apiculata. It was found that the fruit with highest antioxidant activity was seen in B. gymnorrhiza and lowest recorded in K. candel. Likewise carotenoid content was highest in R. apiculata (3.53±0.28 mg/g fwt.) and lowest in K. candel (1.73±1.37 mg/g fwt.). Highest ascorbic acid content was recorded in B. gymnorrhiza (0.53±0.02 mg/g fwt.) and lowest in R. apiculata (0.35±0.03 mg/g fwt.). Fruit of R. apiculata was found rich in micronutrient among all the studied species. Nutrient analysis of these mangrove fruits can help us determining health benefits achieved from their use as an emergency as well as famine food and may play major role in bio-prospecting of mangroves.

Thirteen strains of Streptomyces were isolated from phyllosphere of nine mangrove tree species found in Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem of Orissa. According to physiological, biochemical data, all 13 of the isolates were taxonomically identified to the genus Streptomyces as aurantiacus species. All strains are grayish, spirals and forming amorphous colony. Almost all utilized araginose, produced H2S, resistant towards rifampicin and penicillin, urea except few strains. However, they exhibited different extracellular activity like phosphate solubilization, lipase and L asparaginase production. This is a unique report from this mangrove ecosystem as far as Streptomyces occurrence is concerned.

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Vegetative propagation through rooting in stem cuttings in five tree mangroves namely Bruguiera parviJlora, Cynometra iripa, Excoecaria agallocha, Heritiera fames, and Thespesia populnea using IAA, IBA and NAA was reported. Spectacular increase in the root number was noted in the cuttings of H. fames and C. iripa treated together with IBA (5000 ppm) and NAA (2500 ppm). The highest number of roots w+s obtained with IBA (2500 ppm) and NAA (500 ppm) in E. agallocha. B. parvijora and T populnea responded better to IAA and IBA treatment. The species specific variation in the rooting response to exogenous application of auxins was reflected in the metabolic changes during initiation and development of roots in cuttings. Biochemical analysis showed increase of reducing sugar in the above-girdled tissues at initiation as well as subsequent development of roots which was further enhanced by the use of auxins. Decreases in the total sugar, total carbohydrate and polyphenols and increase in total nitrogen were recorded in the girdled tissues and the high C/N ratio at the initial stage helped in initiation of roots in all the species. Interaction of IBA and NAA promoted starch hydrolysis better than IAA and IBA during root development and subsequently reduced the C/N ratio and increased the protein-nitrogen activity during root development which suggest the auxin influenced mobilization of nitrogen to the rooting zone.Abbreviations: IAA = Indole-3-acetic acid; IBA = Indole-butyric acid; NAA = A-naphthalene acetic acid.

Seasonal variations in protein, polyphenol and tannin concentrations in leaves of nine mangrove species of Rhizophoraceae (Bruguiera cylindrica, B. gymnorrhiza, B. parviflora, B. sexangula, Ceriops decandra, C. tagal, Kandelia candel, Rhizophora apiculataandR. mucronata) are reported. 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 polyphenol 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. parviflora to 0.408 g g-1 dry wt in B. sexangula. Concentrations of these organic constituents in leaf tissues were highest during the rainy season: Bruguiera sexangula had the 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 polyphenols (0.528 g g-1 dry wt). Significant variation in organic constituents was observed among the species in different seasons and protein concentration was negatively correlated with polyphenols and tannin.