Plant Science Today (2016) 3(4): 337-348 337 http://dx.doi.org/10.14719/pst.2016.3.4.235 ISSN: 2348-1900 Plant Science Today http://horizonepublishing.com/journals/index.php/PST Research Article Assessment of Pteridophyte Diversity and their Status in Gujarat State, Western India Kishore S. Rajput1, Ronak N. Kachhiyapatel1, Suresh K. Patel2 and Vinay M. Raole1 1Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002, Gujarat, India 2Department of Botany, Government Science College, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India Article history Abstract Received: 07 May 2016 An intensive field survey was carried out from the hilly regions, plains of different Accepted: 07 September 2016 climatic regimes and agricultural land of Gujarat state. About 23 species were collected Published: 1 October 2016 from Gujarat state, from which eight species viz., Actiniopteris radiata (Sw.) Link, Adiantum caudatum L., A. incisum Forssk., Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw., Pteris vittata L., Selaginella ciliaris (Retz.) Spring, S. delicatula (Desv. ex Poir.) Alston, and S. repanda © Rajput et al. (2016) (Desv. ex Poir.) Spring. were added as new distributional record for the Gujarat state. Increasing anthropogenic pressure, destruction of forest ecosystem and development of infrastructure facilities including road widening and rainwater harvesting program by deepening of the natural ponds are additional reasons for declining terrestrial and Editor aquatic pteridophyte diversity respectively. Our survey concludes that E. debile is K. K. Sabu regionally extinct in the wild while Isoetes coromandeliana, will be lost from its natural habitat in short time if not conserved properly. Therefore, there is an urgent need of in situ conservation by developing action plans in collaboration with the state forest department. Publisher Keywords Horizon e-Publishing Group Diversity of Pteridophytes; Distribution; Gujarat state Corresponding Author Rajput, K. S., R. N. Kachhiyapatel, S. K. Patel and V. M. Raole. 2016. Assessment of Kishore S. Rajput Pteridophyte Diversity and their Status in Gujarat State, Western India. Plant Science Today 3(4): 337-348. http://dx.doi.org/10.14719/pst.2016.3.3.235 [email protected] Introduction great heights like trees. This interesting group of Pteridophytes are the considered one of the early plants form an important component of forest land dwellers and most primitive group of vascular ecosystem and act as connecting bridge between the plants that appeared on this planet in the mid- non-vascular cryptogams and the seed plants and Palaeozoic era (i.e. approx. 438 million years ago) occupy various niches on the land, in marshes, during the Silurian period (Dudani et al., 2011, 2014). swamps and in water bodies (Dudani et al. 2011). Their adaptation to terrestrial condition by evolving They flourish in moist tropical and temperate forests specialized tissues for the translocation of water and while, they also occur in different eco-geographical food is responsible for their greater colonization in regions of the world where the conditions are not terrestrial ecosystems. Development of vascular conducive for growth (Dixit, 2000). The majority of tissue not only contributed in water and food them thrive well in shady and moist places but a few translocation but also played crucial role in survive in rock crevices and dry places while some mechanical support. Therefore, many of them such of them such as Salvinia and Azolla grow in aquatic as Cyathea and Wilsonia (tree ferns) could attain habitats (Bower, 1923, 1963). Horizon e-Publishing Group ISSN: 2348-1900 338 Plant Science Today (2016) 3(4): 337-348 According to Smith et al. (2006), it is University Kolhapur (Maharashtra state). The estimated that there are about 9000-15000 species classification of families and genera is followed of pteridophytes that occur throughout the world according to Fraser-Jenkins (2009). while Moran (2008) predicted it to be Information on the distribution pattern of approximately 13,600 species. Due to diversified pteridophytes in Gujarat is data deficient. topography, variable climatic conditions and However, on the basis of our last three years geographical position, about 1200 species of extensive survey in different regions and pteridophytes are reported from India (Dixit, 1984, discussion with the field taxonomist, their status is 2000; Sukumaran et al., 2009; Dudani et al., 2011; categorized in the present study into RET species Patil and Dongare, 2013, Kavitha et al., 2015; by following the guidelines for application of IUCN Kachhiyapatel et al., 2015; Patel et al.. 2015; Patil et red list criteria at regional and national level al., 2012, 2014, 2016; Rajput et al., 2016), in which (Version 3.1 2nd Edition and Version 12, nearly 17% species are endemic (Sanjappa and http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuid Venu, 2010). However, similar studies are lacking elines.pdf). on the diversity of the state of Gujarat. First report on pteridophyte (Ceratopteris Result and Discussion thalictroides) of Gujarat comes from the Flora of North Gujarat written by Saxton and Sedgwick The present comprehensive survey of Gujarat state (1918). Subsequent studies on pteridophyte of records 23 (22 in wild and one under cultivation) Gujarat were taken up by contemporary species belonging to 11 families and 15 genera of researchers such as Phatak et al. (1953), Chavan pteridophytes (Table 1). Most number of species and Mehta (1956), Gaekwad and Deshmukh (1956), were observed in Pteridaceae (7 species), Chavan and Sabnis (1961), Chavan and Padate Ophioglossaceae (5 species) and Selaginellaceae (3 (1962, 1963), Mahabale (1948, 1963), Shah and species) while Equisetaceae, Isoetaceae, Vaidya (1964), Nayar and Devi (1964), Padate Lygodiaceae, Azollaceae, Marsileaceae, (1969), Inamdar and Shah (1967) and Inamdar Salviniaceae, Dryopteridaceae and Woodsiaceae (1970). Gujarat Ecological Commission (1996) represents one species. Amongst these species of documented 16 species of pteridophytes from pteridophytes, maximum diversity was found in different parts of the state, including forest areas. Dang (forest) District, Shoolpaneshwar wildlife Thereafter, this group of plants was completely sanctuary (Narmada district) and Wilson hills in neglected and studies on them lagged behind. Dharampur district of the state. In the present However, recently few sporadic reports about the study about 08 species viz., Actiniopteris radiata occurrence of pteridophyte have been carried out (from Chotila, Than, Pavagadh, Chotta Udaipur and by Patel et al. (2010), Dabgar (2012), and Modi and common in most part of the North Gujarat), Dudani (2013). However, these reports lack Adiantum caudatum (frequently observed in most location specific data on species reported from the of the forest regions throughout the state), A. state. This emphasizes the necessity for in-depth incisum (commonly observed in most of the forests inventorization and documentation of throughout the state), Lygodium flexuosum pteridophytes. Thus, it was thought worthwhile to presently observed throughout south Gujarat but study the diversity of pteridophytes from Gujarat expected in other parts), Pteris vittata (presently state. observed on the banks of major rivers and in rock crevices of south Gujarat forest and expected more in other parts), Selaginella ciliaris, S. delicatula and Materials and Methods S. repanda (at several places in south Gujarat, The field survey was carried out from Gujarat state Narmada district and expected other forests also) during different seasons of the year 2013 to 2015. were added as new distributional record for the Field photographs were taken by using digital Gujarat state (Fig. 1-4). Some of the specimens camera (Cannon SLR 1200D). The collected collected from different forest regions were found specimens were properly processed in laboratory to be biotypes of Ophioglossum (Fig. 5). Biotypes for the preparation of herbariums (Bridson and are the specimens that differ in size or shape of the Forman, 1992). The herbariums have been particular organ like fronds or whole plant deposited in the BARO herbarium of the however they are identical in physiology Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, the physiological and anatomical characteristics Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, (Anonymous, 2003-2015). Panigrahi and Dixit Vadodara, Gujarat (India). Identification of (1967) and Goswami (2007) reported occurrence of specimens was carried out by the help of various biotypes in the genus Ophioglossum. In the present flora viz., Beddome (1883), Blatter and d’Almeida study, we also noticed several variations in size of (1922), Dixit (1984), Khullar (1994, 2000), Ghosh et the specimen or number of tropophylls. The al. (2004), Fraser-Jenkins (2008), Chandra (2000), species viz., Ophioglossum costatum, O. Kholia (2014) and Fraser-Jenkins et al. (2015). After reticulatum and O. nudicaule are most common identification and verification of correct identity, species for Gujarat state and the species viz. further confirmation of identity was done by Dr. Isoetes coromandeliana, Lygodium flexuosum, Sachin Patil from Department of Botany, Shivaji Ophioglossum gramineum and Tectaria coadunata Horizon e-Publishing Group ISSN: 2348-1900 339 Plant Science Today (2016) 3(4): 337-348 Table 1: List of species reported by earlier workers and in the present study. Abbreviations: T= Terrestrial, L= Lithophyte, A= Aquatic and UC= Under Cultivation. Threat status as per