Seasonal Variation in Free Proline Content in Christella dentata (Forssk) Brownsey & Jermy
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Abstract
Pteridophytes are shade loving plants which generally require low temperature andhigh humidity for their optimum growth. But in spite of xeric and hostile climate, agood number of pteridophytes grow in various parts of Rajasthan. In the presentinvestigation, study on stress physiology of the fern Christella dentata has beenattempted, by estimating free proline content in the leaves of this fern. C. dentata isan orophilous fern i.e. not specific to any particular altitude, habitat or exposure tosun. The species is also variable with regard to nature of rhizome, height of frondsand soil moisture. It often forms large dense colonies. It prefers well exposed fringesof forest and similar localities. Plants growing in shaded areas often have largerpinnae, greenish stipe and rachis. Water stress plays an important role in thefunctioning of various metabolic processes in a plant body. The influence of prolineon the mechanism of drought resistance is well known in angiosperms but its role inpteridophytes is less studied