Back to Contents

Pak. J. Bot., 49(1): 173-179, 2017.

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

PIGMENT CONTENT (CHLOROPHYLL AND CAROTENOIDS) IN 37 SPECIES OF TREES AND SHRUBS IN NORTHEASTERN

MEXICO DURING SUMMER SEASON

HUMBERTO GONZÁLEZ RODRÍGUEZ^1*, RATIKANTA MAITI¹, ELIUD AVENDAÑO¹,

CH. ARUNA KUMARI² AND NARAYAN CHANDRA SARKAR³

¹Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Carr. Nac. No. 85 Km. 145, Linares, Nuevo León 67700, Mexico

²Professor Jaya Shanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Agricultural College, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, AP, 500030, India

³Assistant Professor, Department of ASEPAN, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, PO- Sriniketan, Birbhum (Dist), West Bengal, 731 236, India

*Corresponding author’s email: humberto.gonzalezrd@uanl.edu.mx

Abstract

 Plant pigments play an important role in plant assimilatory systems and plant growth. A study was undertaken to determine chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids contents of thirty seven species of trees and shrubs in summer season, in Linares, northeastern Mexico. Large variations were observed in the contents of chlorophyll (a, b and total) and also carotenoids among species. Chorophyll a was minimum (around 0.6 mg) in Leucophyllum frutescens and Acacia berlandieri and maximum (1.8 mg) in Ebenopsis ebano. Chlorophyll b was minimum in Forestiera angustifolia, Acacia berlandieri, and Leucophyllum frutescens (0.1 to 0.2 mg), while Ebenopsis ebano contained maximum (0.4 mg). Carotenoids content was minimum (around 0.2 mg) in Leucophyllum frutescens, Acacia berlandieri and Parkinsonia aculeata and others but maximum value (around 0.6 mg) was observed in Berberis trifoliata. Total chlorophyll (a+b) content minimum values (around 0.6 mg) were recorded in Leucophyllum frutescens, Forestiera angustifolia, Croton suaveolens and Acacia berlandieri, while maximum value (around 2 mg) was obtained in Ebenopsis ebano. Maximum values of chlorophyll (a:b) ratio (around 7) was seen in Forestiera angustifolia, Salix lasiolepis followed by Diospyros texana (around 6). The ratio of total chlorophyll/carotenoids was maximum in Parkinsonia aculeata (nearing 8), while minimum value was obtained in Berberis trifoliata (around 2).

Key words: Chlorophyll and carotenoids, Native plant species, Plant pigments, Northeastern Mexico.