PROPAGULE MORPHOLOGY CHARACTERISTICS OF RHIZOPHORACEAE SPECIES IN CAN GIO MANGROVE BIOSPHERE RESERVE, HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

Developing and conserving mangroves is one of the policies that the Party and State increasingly pay attention to promote socio-economic and response to global climate change. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued planting technical guidance for 11 species of mangrove trees. However, the materials for mangrove planting techniques are still scarce and relatively confusing. This study aimed to determine the morphological characteristics of propagules, including diameter, length and fresh weight of propagules of 8 mangrove tree species belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae, with a sample size of 100 propagules/each species. Study results show that, among the propagules of selected mangrove species, the Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is the species with the highest diameter index, reaching an average of 21.72 ± 1.04 mm. Meanwhile, Rhizophora mucronata has the highest average fresh weight and length indices, reaching 55.80 ± 4.21 cm and 95.44 ± 17.23 g, respectively. The study also determined the correlation between diameter and length-fresh weight of propagule indices through the equation Y = exp (a + b*X) with high R² values (0.63 - 0.94). Comparison of the morphological characteristics of propagules of mangrove species in this study with the results of other studies also demonstrates high similarities. Thus, the achieved results in this study have initially provided parameters of high scientific significance to serve the research as well as implementing future afforestation programs and projects in the Can Gio mangrove biosphere reserve and other localities that have similar natural conditions.​