The Estimation of Plant Pigments of Cochin Backwater During the Monsoon Months

Spectrophotometric estimations of chlorophylls a, b, and c, and plant carotenoids of Cochin backwater by revised equations showed that chlorophyll c and plant carotenoids were the major pigments. The phytoplankton crop of the backwater during the monsoon months (June–September) was largely made up of diatoms and dinoflagellates. No constant relation between chlorophylls a, b, and c, and plant carotenoids, was obtained and it is suggested that high values of chlorophyll c and carotenoids obtained in the present investigation may be because the extract contained a substantial quantity of dead chlorophylls and their derivatives coming from detritus and stirred-up sediments.