Foliar and Polyphenol Content in selected tree Speoes In Bukit Tupai Mount Kinabalu

• Main Author: Ooi, Keh Yang
• Format: Academic Exercise
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: QK Botany
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/19095/1/Foliar%20and%20Polyphenol%20Content%20in%20selected%20tree%20Speoes%20In%20Bukit%20Tupai%20Mount%20Kinabalu.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/19095/

This study was conducted to determine the interaction of phenolic and nitrogen in selected tree species in nutrient deficient forest of Mount Kinabalu. Leaves of nine species were collected in three replicates. The total phenolic content of leaves sample were determined by using Folin-Gocalteu colorimetric method with slight modifications and using tanniC acid as standard. Total nitrogen and carbon content in leaves were determined using Elementar vario MAX CN analyzer. Total phenolic content was significantly different (p<O.OOl) between species. Total phenolic content in leaves ranged between 1.46 to 4.84 % d.w. TAE. Ascarina philippinensis had the lowest phenolic content with 1.46 ± 0.29 % d.w. TAE, while, Myrica javanica had the highest phenolic content with 4.84 ± 0.32 % d.w. TAE. Podocarp species showed an increase in total phenolic content except Dacrycarpus imbricatus. A significant negative correlation between total phenolic and total nitrogen content was obtained (r = - 0.8030 and R2 = 0.6449)(p<0.01). C:N ratio in leaves of different tree species was significantly different (p<O.OS). A significant negative correlation was obtained between total C:N ratio to total nitrogen content (r = - 0.9600; R2 = 0.9224)(p<O.Ol). C:N ratio indicates leaf quality and degradability. High C:N ratio suggests low quality litter that reduces degradability. Litter quality determines rate of decomposition because quality of litter changes as a result of carbon and nitrogen utilization by decomposer. Low quality litter may in tum cause nitrogen defiCit, thereby increases the production of phenoliC in plants. Nutrient limited plants suffer from low growth rate and have higher concentration of carbon-based secondary metabolites. The negative correlation in total phenolic with nitrogen in leaves agreed with the carbon-nutrient balance hypothesis. The hypothesis suggests that resource availability affects production of secondary compounds. Plant species produdng high phenolic content may possess different strategies to adapt in resource poor environment to overcome resource limitation.