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STUDIES ON INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACACIA TORTILIS AND ITS EPIPHYTE TAPINANTHUS GLOBIFERUS IN TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA.

Fahad M. AlZuaibr and *Abid Ali Ansari

The genus Tapinanthus (Loranthaceae) are stem hemi-parasites or epiphytes, commonly known as ‘mistletoes’. It is also known as ‘Hadhal’ in Saudi Arabia. Plant is most commonly found growing on tree crops of economic importance especially Acacia sp. (Fabaceae) which is a common tree species of Tabuk region. The plant is widespread under drought stress conditions and in a variety of drier habitats of Saudi Arabia. Both the plants in this region are well known for their medicinal importance. In this preliminary experiment, interrelationship of Acacia tortilis and its epiphyte Tapinanthus globiferus was studied in terms of their biochemical composition. Both the plants were analyzed for their mineral compositions (N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn). Screening on some photochemical was also conducted. Results showed higher mineral contents in host plant as compared to its epiphyte. However, Ca and Mg were higher in T. globiferus. Both the plants accumulate Cu and Zn in very low concentrations. Phytochemical compositionin ethanol extracts showed presence of steroids and flavonoids in A. tortilis whereas its epiphytes contain alkaloids and steroids. Keywords: Acacia, Tapinanthus, epiphytes, minerals, phytochemicals

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