STUDY ON DROUGHT STRESS OF SIX COMMON FERNS IN NORTH CHINA

Abstract

Six common ferns (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Adiantum pedatum, Polystichum tripteron, Matteuccia struthiopteris, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Athyrium multidentatum) in north China were selected to test for drought stress. During drought stress, ferns were randomly selected to determine photosynthetic rate, soil moisture content, chlorophyll content, leaf water content, leaf water-retention ability and electric conductivity. The plant growth information was investigated in different water conditions. The results showed that: the ranks of drought resistance of the six ferns were Adiantum capillus-veneris > Adiantum pedatum > Polystichum tripteron > Matteuccia struthiopteris > Athyrium multidentatum > Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum. Drought resistance was made clear by soil moisture content, leaf water content and net photosynthetic rate. The results indicated that the soil moisture content, leaf water content and net photosynthetic rate were the most reliable indexes; the leaf relative electric conductivity, chlorophyll concentration could be used as auxiliary indexes; and the leaf moisture retaining power and chlorophyll a/b rate partly reflected the drought tolerance, as reference indexes. Matteuccia struthiopteris applied in urban greening is abundant in parks of Beijing at present. The results of statistical analysis of related data showed that Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum pedatum and Polystichum tripteron have strong drought tolerance, and good visual effect. Therefore there is an extremely widespread application prospect in landscaping of north China, especially in Beijing.