Effect of altitude on total phenolics and flavonoids in Sphagnum junghuhnianum in tropical montane forests of Borneo

• Main Authors: Luiza Majuakim, Shean Yeaw Ng, Mohd Fadzelly Abu Bakar Fifilyana, Monica Suleiman
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Sabah Forestry Department 2014
• Subjects: QK900-989 Plant ecology
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/30785/1/Effect%20of%20altitude%20on%20total%20phenolics%20and%20flavonoids%20in%20Sphagnum%20junghuhnianum%20in%20tropical%20montane%20forests%20of%20Borneo-ABSTRACT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/30785/2/Effect%20of%20altitude%20on%20total%20phenolics%20and%20flavonoids%20in%20Sphagnum%20junghuhnianum%20in%20tropical%20montane%20forests%20of%20Borneo.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/30785/; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272748149_Effect_of_altitude_on_total_phenolics_and_flavonoids_in_Sphagnum_junghuhnianum_in_tropical_montane_forests_of_Borneo

Over the past decades, studies on bryophyte phytochemistry have been extensive, but there is a dearth of information regarding the effect of altitude on the phytochemical content in bryophytes. We carried out an evaluation on the phytochemical content of a tropical moss, Sphagnum junghuhnianum Dozy & Molk., at two different sites with contrasting altitude. The study was conducted on Mount Alab (1,800 m a.s.l.), representing low altitude site, and Mount Kinabalu (approximately 2,300 m a.s.l.), representing high altitude site. The total phenolics and flavonoids in S. junghuhnianum showed significant differenc e ( P 0.05) within populations at Mount Alab. In contrast, no significant difference was detected within populations at Mount Kinabalu. Total p henolics and flavonoids were relatively greater at Mount Kinabalu compared to Mount Alab, although no significan t difference was found. This study implies that within site variations such as soil nutrient content, amount of rainfall, rate of photosynthesis and light intensity may have a stronger effect on total phenolics and flavonoids in S. junghuhnianum.