Journal of Environmental Biology

Growth of Avicennia marina and Ceriops decandra seedlings inoculated

with halophilic azotobacters

S. Ravikumar*¹, K. Kathiresan², S.Liakath Alikhan³, G. Prakash Williams⁴ and N. Anitha Anandha Gracelin⁵

*ravibiotech201320@yahoo.com

¹Department of Oceanography and coastal area studies, Alagappa University, Thondi-683409, India

²Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai-608 502, India

³Department of Chemistry, Dr. Zakir Hussain College, Ilayangudi-630 702, India

⁴Department of Microbial Technology, Malankara Catholic College, Mariagiri, Kaliakkavilai-629 153, India

⁵Division of Marine Microbiology and Medicine, Center for Marine Science and Technology,

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Rajakkamangalam-629 502, India

(Received: September 06, 2005 ; Revised received: November 10, 2005 ; Accepted: January 17, 2006)

Abstract: Inoculation of azotobacter has significant positive effects on the growth characteristics and pigments in mangrove seedlings of Avicennia marina and Ceriops decandra. The bacterial inoculation significantly increased the root dry biomass at the maximum of 75.8% at 30 gl^-1salinity in Ceriops decandra. But in Avicennia marina, the shoot dry biomass was increased significantly at the maximum of 56.12% at  30 gl^-l salinity. In general, the Azotobacter beijerinkii improved the growth characteristics better in both species of mangroves preferably at higher salinity levels in A. marina and at a range of salinity in C. decandra. The results recommend this for raising vigorous seedlings under nursery conditions.

Key words:   Avicennia marina, Azotobacters, Biofertilizers, Ceriops decandra, Mangroves, Salinity

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