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Studies on the physiology and propagation of the ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

Robert K. Prange
Robert K. Prange
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, P.O. Box 550, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada B2N 5E3
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Synopsis

The effect of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), water, temperature and nutrition on frond emergence, vegetative frond production, fertile frond production, vegetative propagation and dormancy is examined. Ostrich fern plants will not break winter dormancy until they have received a minimum amount of cold exposure below a base temperature which is above 5.8°C and may be as high as 20°C. After the plants have received their chilling requirement, vegetative frond emergence does not occur until temperatures at or above ca. 9.3°C are reached. Percent germination and rate of emergence increases up to ca. 24°C. Photosynthetic photon flux density, water availability and mineral nutrition can affect both vegetative and fertile frond production but water availability appears to be the most critical. A mild water stress of −0.15MPa can have significant effects on water status and gas exchange in fronds. Sporophyte plants for field production have been produced vegetatively from detached meristems occurring naturally on the rhizomes, and through fertilization of axenic gametophytes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 86: The Biology of Pteridophytes , 1985 , pp. 153 - 159
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1985

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