India harbors the wealthiest biodiversity of mangroves, yet the utilization of sequence-based DNA barcodes for the characterization of mangrove diversity from the Indian coastal region is needed to be explored. In the present study, we assessed DNA barcode-based phylogenetics of mangroves from Sundarbans Delta and Kerala at the ITS locus of the nuclear genome. The phylogenetic analysis was performed using Bayesian inference, which proved to resolve the evolutionary affinities effectively. Our study presents mangroves’ systematic assessment with total 6 DNA sequences generated from 5 genera, and the first DNA barcode of Volkameria inermis and Avicennia marina from Payyanur Kerala, Avicennia alba and Suaeda maritima from the Sundarbans Delta was reported from ITS locus. The phylogenetic assessment confirmed that Avicennia belong s to the family Acanthaceae and placed the Volkameria inermis from Payyanur and Clerodendrum eriophyllum under the same monophyletic clade.

Present paper describes two voracious insect pests on Xylocarpus granatum Koenig, a critically endangedred mangrove species of Maharashtra. It reports Hypsipyla robusta Moore. for first time from Indian subcontinent on host species. It also records severe damage of mature seeds. The three stages of pest (H. robusta Moore) including larva, cocoon formation, moths up to eight days and two stages of hosts getting infested by pest are observed. The pest is exploiting embryo and cotyledons but not the seed coat. This is first area where population of H. robusta Moore on Xylocarpus granatum is reported after Dixon (Horak, 1996) from Australian subcontinent. Flowers of host are also found infested by this pest H. robusta. There is less reproductive output of host species because of the H. robusta Moore. Another pest Attacus atlas Linn. as voracious leaf eater is reported on X. granatum from Achara. Three satges of Attacus atlas including larva (with two instars) and cocoons and adults were reported from field as well as in laboratory by providing leaves of X. granatum. The feeding behaviour, extent of damage and level of infestation by both pests on the critically endangered host species alarms need of ecofriendly control of these pests. N Save Nature to Survive *Corresponding author

The threatened mangrove species Xylocarpus granatum Koen. has been rediscovered after a period of nine decades from the West Coast of Maharashtra. On the basis of IUCN guidelines, the species is categorized as a critically endangered and narrowly distributed species of Maharashtra. When the inter- and intra-populations spread across the estuaries of Maharashtra Coast were studied, it was observed that the species shows considerable phenotypic variation with respect to leaflet size and shape, number of floral parts, number and size of fruits per inflorescence, and also dimorphism in leaves. Hence, populations of X. granatum from three different localities representing the above-mentioned phenotypic variations were selected and assessed at biochemical level by protein profiling and at genomic level using ISSR markers. The analyses showed that even though the variation exists at phenotypic level, the inter- and intra-populations showed similarity in total protein pattern and 92% similarity at genomic level. Thus, it seems that the phenotypic variations in the inter- and intra-populations of X. granatum are probably epigenetic. The low genetic variation in this species threatens its own existence and strongly demands immediate appropriate conservation measures.