African Journal of
Plant Science

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Plant Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0824
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPS
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 804

Full Length Research Paper

Epiphytic organisms on the pneumatophores of the mangrove Avicennia marina: occurrence and possible function

Y. Naidoo*, T. D. Steinke, F. D. Mann, A. Bhatt and S. Gairola
School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Westville Campus KZN, South Africa.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 28 January 2008
  •  Published: 28 February 2008

Abstract

 

The nature of the epiphytism of red algae and also the occurrence and possible role of other epiphytic micro-organisms within the superficial tissues of pneumatophores of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed that bacteria and holdfasts of red algae were present in damaged tissue of the periderm. Culture studies indicated that some bacteria were diazotrophic. A mutualistic relationship between epiphytes and mangrove pneumatophores was postulated.

 

Keywords: Algae, bacteria, epiphytism, mangrove, Avicennia marina.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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