Healthy mangrove leaves of A. marina (Forsk.) Vierh were collected from Vellar estuary, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu,India. All the samples were collected in sterile plastic bags and transported aseptically to the laboratory. The leaves were washed in running tap water, followed by 70 % ethanol for 2 min, 2 % sodium hypochlorite containing 0.1 % Tween 20 for 10 s and finally rinsed in distilled water for 2 min.