Welcome to Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin,

Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (34): 92-97.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2023-0248

Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Study on Heat Tolerance of Six Fern Species from Northern China

WU Fei1,2(), LI Peng1, WANG Wei1, CUI Yulian1, XU Yuqing1, LU Shanshan1,2(), ZHAO Baolin1,2()   

  1. 1 China National Botanical Garden (North Garden), Beijing 100093
    2 Beijing Floriculture Engineering Technology Research Centre, Beijing 100093
  • Received:2023-03-23 Revised:2023-10-16 Online:2023-12-05 Published:2023-11-30

Abstract:

In order to guide the selection of fern materials for landscape in the summer high-temperature environment of northern China, this study compared the heat resistance of six native fern species from northern China using parameters such as electrical conductivity, half-lethal temperature, and cell damage rate. Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Onoclea sensibilis var. interrupta, Matteuccia struthiopteri, Dryopteris crassirhizoma, D. expansa, and Athyrium sinense were selected for heat stress treatment. The relative conductivity of them was determined under gradient temperature treatment conditions, and the half-lethal temperature (LT50) was calculated by a Logistic equation. Simultaneously, measurements of fern leaf epidermis structure (leaf area, leaf weight, stomata density), chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic data were also conducted. On such a basis, the correlation between the heat resistance of ferns and each measurement indicator was analyzed and then tested using field observation data. Combining with geographical distribution characteristics of ferns, the thermal resistance of each experimental material was comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that with the increase of temperature, the cell damage rate showed an ‘S’ curve (slow-fast-slow). The ranking of six fern species based on half-lethal temperature ranges from highest to lowest was as follows: D. crassirhizoma (63.77℃)> A. sinense (62.07℃)> D. expansa (61.63℃)> M. struthiopteris (61.13℃)> O. sensibilis var. interrupta (58.10℃)> P. aquilinum var. latiusculum (56.70℃). The field observation data were generally consistent with the conductivity data and the geographical distribution characteristics of ferns. LT50 could be used as one of the evaluating factors for the heat tolerance of ferns. The epidermal morphology of leaves can also be used as a reference for heat tolerance. The selection results can enrich the types of ferns used in garden display in Beijing.

Key words: ferns, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, half-lethal temperature, Logistic equation