INVESTIGATION ON FERN GENUS ATHYRIUM ROTH. I. VARIATIONS IN DROUGHT RESISTANCE OF THREE SPECIES OCCURRING AT MT ABU, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Ecophysiology of Athyrium falcatum, A. pectinatum and A. schimperi occurring at Mt Abu, Rajasthan with special reference to drought resistance is described in this paper, Temperature treatment given to rhizomes, fronds and spores and percentage sprouting of rhizomes, percentage degradation of chlorophyll with total carotenoids and percentage viability of spores respectively is provided. A. pectinatum was found to be comparatively more drought resistant, surviving for a longer period in every growing season in comparison to both A. falcatum and A. schimperi. A. falcatum however, shows a higher spore viability percentage after temperature treatment. This explains its confinement to a rocky habitat whereas both A. pectinatum and A. schimperi grow by and large in a soil textured habitat at Mt. Abu.