Abstract
Ferns present two alternant generations: sporophyte and gametophyte. In the present work we address the question of whether fern gametophytes have the potential to acclimate to different irradiances as vascular plants do. We studied the gametophytes of three different fern species belonging to the Aspleniaceae family with different ecological requirements (Asplenium trichomanes, Asplenium scoloprendrium and Ceterach officinarum). Fern spores were germinated and the gametophytes cultivated under photon flux density (PFD) of 10, 50 or 100 μmol m−2 s−1. From the early stages of spore germination (the formation of the 5-celled germinal filament), photosynthetic apparatus acclimates showing the typical patterns of photochemical responses to high or low PFD. In agreement with the photochemical pattern of acclimation, higher contents of xanthophyll cycle pigments and α-tocopherol was observed in plants grown under high PFD. The α/β-carotene ratio, used as indicator of the acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus, also sustained the initial hypothesis except for A. trichomanes. We conclude that fern gametophytes display a complete array of photosynthetic and photoprotective traits that allow an effective acclimation to PFD.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- A:
-
antheraxanthin
- Car:
-
carotenoid
- FM:
-
fresh mass
- L:
-
lutein
- N:
-
neoxanthin
- NPQ:
-
non photochemical quenching
- PFD:
-
photon flux density
- Toc:
-
tocopherol
- V:
-
violaxanthin
- Z:
-
zeaxanthin
- ΦPS2 :
-
quantum yield of PS 2 photochemistry
References
Brach, A.R., McNaughton, S.J., Raynal, D.J.: Photosynthetic adaptability of 2 fern species of a northern hardwood forest. — Amer. Fern J. 83: 47–53, 1993.
Cai, Y.F., Zhang, S.B., Hu, H., Li, S.Y.: Photosynthetic performance and acclimation of Incarvillea delavayi to water stress. — Biol. Plant. 54: 89–96, 2010.
Chowdhury, S.R., Kumar, A., Sahoo, N.: Diurnal changes in chlorophyll fluorescence and light utilization in Colocasia esculenta leaves grown in marshy waterlogged area. — Biol. Plant. 53: 167–170, 2009.
Demmig-Adams, B.: Survey of thermal energy dissipation and pigment composition in sun and shade leaves. — Plant Cell Physiol. 39: 474–482, 1998.
Ellenberg, H., Weber, H.E., Dull, R., Wirth, V., Werner, W., Paulissen, D.: [Zeigerwerte von Pflanzen in Mitteleoropa.] — Scripta geobot. 18: 1–258, 1992. [In German]
Esteban, R., Olano, J.M., Castresana, J., Fernández-Marín, B., Hernández, A., Becerril, J.M., García-Plazaola, J.I.: Distribution and evolutionary trends of photoprotective isoprenoids (xanthophylls and tocopherols) within the plant kingdom. — Physiol. Plant. 135: 379–389, 2009.
García-Plazaola, J.I., Becerril, J.M.: A rapid HPLC method to measure lipophilic antioxidants in stressed plants: simultaneous determination of carotenoids and tocopherols. — Phytochem. Anal. 10: 307–313, 1999.
García-Plazaola, J.I., Becerril, J.M.: Seasonal changes in photosynthetic pigments and antioxidants in beech (Fagus sylvatica) in a Mediterranean climate: implications for tree decline diagnosis. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 2: 225–32, 2001.
Greer, G.K., McCarthy, B.C.: Gametophytic plasticity among four species of ferns with contrasting ecological distributions. — Int. J. Plant Sci. 160: 879–886, 1999.
Hagar, W.G., Freeberg, J.A.: Photosynthetic rates of sporophytes and gametophytes of the fern, Todea barbara. — Plant Physiol. 65: 584–586, 1980.
Hiendlmeyer, R., Randi, A.M.: Response of spores and young gametophytes of Cyathea delgadii Sternb. (Cyatheaceae) and Blechnum brasiliense Desv. (Blechnaceae) to different light levels. — Acta bot. bras. 21: 909–915, 2007.
Hietz, P., Briones, O.: Photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and within canopy distribution of epiphytic ferns in a Mexican cloud forest. — Plant Biol. 3: 279–287, 2001.
Johnson, G.N., Rumsey, F.J., Headley, A.D., Sheffield, E.: Adaptations to extreme low light in the fern Trichomanes speciosum. — New Phytol. 148: 423–431, 2000.
Klekowski, E.J.: Reproductive biology of the Pteridophyta. III. A study of Blechnaceae. — Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 62: 361–377, 1969.
Lösch, R., Biron, U., Patrias, T., Hoptner, B.: Gas exchange and water relations of Asplenium ferns growing on limestone rocks. — Nova Hedwigia 131(Suppl.): 221–236, 2007.
Lüttge, U. (ed.): Physiological Ecology of Tropical Plants. — Springer-Verlag, Berlin — Heidelberg 1997.
Muccifora, S., Gori, P.: Asplenium trichomanes ssp trichomanes gametophyte. A light and electron microscope study. — Caryologia 48: 265–274, 1995.
Müller, P., Li, X.-P., Niyogi, K.: Non-photochemical quenching. A response to excess light energy. — Plant Physiol. 12: 1558–1566, 2001.
Sakamaki, Y., Ino, Y.: Contribution of fern gametophytes to the growth of produced sporophytes on the basis of carbon gain. — Ecol. Res. 14: 59–69, 1999.
Sakamaki, Y., Ino, Y.: Gametophyte contribution to sporophyte growth on the basis of carbon gain in the fern Thelypteris palustris: effect of gametophyte organic-matter production on sporophytes. — J. Plant Res. 120: 301–308, 2007.
Saldaña, A., Ginoli, E., Lusk, C.H.: Ecophysiological responses to light availability in three Blechnum species (Pteridophyta, Blechnaceae) of different ecological breadth. — Oecologia 145: 252–257, 2005.
Smith, A.R., Pryer, K.M., Schuettpelz, E., Korall, P., Schneider, H., Wolf, P.G.: A classification for extant ferns. — Taxon 55: 705–731, 2006.
Thayer, S.S., Björkman, O.: Leaf xanthophyll content and composition in sun and shade determined by HPLC. — Photosynth. Res. 23: 331–343, 1990.
Tausz, M., Hietz, P., Briones, O.: The significance of carotenoids and tocopherols in photoprotection of seven epiphytic fern species of a Mexican cloud forest. — Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 28: 775–783, 2001.
Watkins, J.E., Mack, M.C., Sinclair, T.R., Mulkey, S.S.: Ecological and evolutionary consequences of desiccation tolerance in tropical fern gametophytes. — New. Phytol. 176: 708–717, 2007a.
Watkins, J.E., Mack, M.C., Stephen, S., Mulkey, S.: Gametophyte ecology and demography of epiphytic and terrestrial tropical ferns. — Amer. J. Bot. 94: 701–708, 2007b.
Zhang, L.L., Wen, D.Z., Fu, S.L.: Responses of photosynthetic parameters of Mikania micrantha and Chromolaena odorata to contrasting irradiance and soil moisture. — Biol. Plant. 53: 517–522, 2009.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr. M. Herrera for his helpful contributions. We also wish to thank F. Miguez for technical assistance. Technical and human support by Dr. A. Gonzalez, Phytotron Service, SGIKER (UPV/EHU) is gratefully acknowledged. B. F. received a fellowship from the Basque Government. This research was supported by research BFU 2007-62637 from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and research project UPV/EHU-GV IT-299-07.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fernández-Marín, B., Arroyo Alfaro, S.J., Becerril, J.M. et al. Do fern gametophytes have the capacity for irradiance acclimation?. Biol Plant 56, 351–356 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-012-0097-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-012-0097-z