Bio-Science Research Bulletin Vol.31(No.1-2)2015 :P.13-20 www.bpas.in DOI 10.5958/2320-3161.2015.00002.4

Print version ISSN 0970 0889 Online version ISSN 2320 3161 PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN PTERIDOPHYTES OF LOHGAD AREA, ,

Gavade Vasundhara Vithoba 1, M S Prashanth 2* and P S Kadam 3 1Department of Botany, 2Department of Zoology, V. K. Chavan-Patil Arts, Commerce and Science Senior College, University, KARVE- 416 507 Chandgad (Tal.), Kolhapur (Dist.) , India

3Department of Botany, Prof. Ramkrishna More Arts, Science and Commerce College, AKURDI-411044 (Dist-Pune), Maharashtra, India

Received on 16 April 2015: Accepted on 12 November 2015

ABSTRACT

The present study mainly focuses on the physiological importance of pteridophytic floras present in the Lohgad area of Maharashtra state, India. Adiantum, Pteris, Chelanthus farinose , Nephrolepsis cordifolia & Pleopeltis rostrata were commonly found and selected in the present research. Photosynthetic pigments like total chlorophylls, carotenes, Polyphenol, major organic and inorganic constituents like Na, K, Ca, Cu and Mn are reduced in the all pteridophytes studied. Carotenes, Polyphenol content was seen to be maximum in fern, Pleopeltis and Pteris as compared to others. Mg content has maximum in all pteridophytes. In case of Pleopeltis there is maximum concentration of all major inorganic constituents was observed.

Key words : Ferns, Chlorophylls, Carotenes, Polyphenol.

INTRODUCTION The Pteridophytes considered to be the primitive vascular plant group which are scattered all over the world. India has a rich and varied Pteridophytic flora due to its diversified topography, variable climatic conditions and its geographical position with several migration-flows of species of different phytogeographical elements meeting in different parts of the country. Pteridophytes are an important component of the flora of this major region of species-diversity, next to Angiopsperms in number. About 13, 600 species are known around the world (Maridass and Raju , 2010) and more than 1200 species of ferns and fern allies have reported from India (Dixit, 1984; Chandra, 2000), but recent revision of doubtful new species is showing this to be an overestimate by perhaps 20%, even though genuine new findings are made from time to time. ______* Corresponding author:Dr. M. S. PRASHANTH , Principal, V. K. Chavan-Patil Arts, Commerce and Science Senior College, KARVE- 416 507 Chandgad (Tal.), Kolhapur (Dist.) Maharashtra, India Email : [email protected] ; [email protected]

Gavade Vasundhara Vithoba, M S Prashanth and P S Kasdam

Nevertheless, it is likely that the actual number may be in the region of 900 to 1000 species (Subhash Chandra, 2008). Ferns are leaf plants that are growing in moist areas under forest canopy and it grows a wide range of altitude from sea level up to 3000 meter. These are reproduced differently from the conifers and flowering plants. It has to do with moisture. Not just moisture that allowed the plant to live where it does, but the moisture that allows it to reproduce there. Ferns are not as important economically as seed plant but have considerable importance. Some ferns are used for food, including the fiddleheads of Bracken, Pteridum aquilinum, Ostrich fern and Cinnamon fern. They are also used in biological fertilizer for rice paddies ( Azolla genus), as landscape in horticulture and as a houseplants ( Nephrolepsis exalta ), useful in removal for heavy metals especially arsenic form soil, used as highly medicine ( Adiantum, pteris, Chelanthus farinose , Nephrolepsis cordifolia & Pleopeltis rostrata ) and tree ferns used for building material. Being a group of lower plants, they are always neglected and their useful aspects are largely ignored. Very less attention has been given towards the utility of pteridophytes though they possess economic importance and medicinal value as well (Shil and Choudhury, 2009). Despite the large number of indigenous species a considerable percentage of them are rare threatened. With increasing utilization of land and natural resources, it is feared that many of these threatened taxa will become yet rarer, more valuable and endangered, and in several cases may finally become extinct, as any disturbance or imbalance in their narrowly confined ecosystems is liable to lead to their extermination. Lohgad area is an important biological diversity in western Maharashtra, comes under region India. The biodiversity of Lohgad area is rich and unique assemblage of flora and fauna. Study of for is necessary for knowing the composition of plants species and can accompanied with previous records to know the change in flora composition. The aim of the present investigation was to assess the physiological properties, organic and inorganic constituents of pteridophytic floras present in the Lohgad area. Adiantum, Pteris, Chelanthus farinose , Nephrolepsis cordifolia & Pleopeltis rostrata were commonly seen and selected for the present research work.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area: Lohgad is situated about 54 km east from Pune (Maharashtra, India) by road and it is 9 km from . It lies between 18 0 1’ 47’’ N longitude and 73 0 28’ 42’’ E longitudes, having an area. There are three villages Malvali, Bhaje village it dates on second century B.C Lohgad is situated in the Maval, which are covered by many mountains and valleys. In this valleys there are quite often rivers, rivulet or small streams follow intertwine path by their side open into a low altitude basin of a river in valley. Such valleys are well protected by two mountains spurs running parallel and are fed by mountains streams. They provide unique climate and location for plants to grow isolated they are located Mavals, which are many any in Ghats (Flora of Maharashtra). and Visapur forts are situated a top an impressive hill near Malavali. These forts were built in 18 century. 1km long ridge separates the two forts. At the south eastern region of Lohagad there is on which a dam is construction and in north region is which flows parallel to Lohagad and .

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PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN PTERIDOPHYTES OF LONHGAD AREA, PUNE, INDIA

Collection of Plants: The present research work was carried out in months of July, August, September and October petridophytes grown along Lohagad area. The plants were collected, identified and brought to the laboratory. The plants were washed thoroughly with fresh water then with distilled water and blotted to dry.

Analysis of organic constituents: Fresh collected plants of Adiantum, Cheilanthes farinose, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Pteris, Pleoplatis w ere used. 0.5 gm of the material was used for estimating the Photosynthetic pigments like chlorophylls by Arnon’s (1949) method and carotenes were estimated by Kirk and Allen (1965) method. Total carotenes were estimated using the formula of Liasen–Jenson and Jenson (1971). Polyphenols were estimated using Folin Denis (1915) method.

Analysis of Inorganic constituents: Plants Adiantum silver fern, Pteris pleopeltis which were collected, washed, and then kept in the oven at 60 0C for 10 days. The oven dried material was used for acid digestion using method of Toth et al. (1948) Na, K and Ca were estimated flame photo metrically.

Microelements like Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn were estimated atomic absorption photo metrically. Na, K, Ca the major element was estimated was estimated LABTRONICS flame photometry. The concentrations of Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe and Zn in the samples were determined by Atomic Absorption spectrometry [220] using the VARIAN spectrometer with flame and hollow cathode lamps [HCL]. Chlorophylls, Carotenes and Polyphenol by using SYSTRONICS UV-VIS spectrophotometer.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll gives green color to the leaves and it is found in high concentration in chloroplasts of plant cells. Chlorophyll absorbs light most strongly in the blue and red but poorly in the green portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Besides chlorophyll there are other pigments called accessory pigments which occur in the pigment protein antenna complexes. Chlorophyll is a chlorine pigment.

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Gavade Vasundhara Vithoba, M S Prashanth and P S Kasdam

The total chlorophyll content in the leaves of Adiantum, Chielanthus, Pteris has been found to be reduced from August to October whereas in Pleopeltis reverse trend has been observed. There is increase in the chlorophyll content from August to October. Bohra et al. (1978) have studied the relationship of xerophytic species showed lesser degradation of chlorophyll and exhibited higher carotenoid higher carotenoid contents in Adiantum, Chielanthus and Athyrium.

Carotenoids : The carotenoid content is found to be reduced in all the five pteridophytes in present investigation. Czeczuga (1987) studied the carotenoid contents in leaves of mosses, pteridophyte grown under various light intensities and concluded that total carotenoid content and chlorophyll is increased in the plants growing in the shade indicating that carotenoids play a significant role equal to that of cholophyll as antennae absorbing light in the plants.]

Czeczuga [1985] has reported presence of 27 carotenoids in the preridophytes. Michael et al.(2001) have reported the role of carotenoids and tocopherols in photo protection of seven fern species Asplenium, Polypodium . They have not seen any significant chlorophyll degradation and such short term induction of tocopherols and carotenoids has not been reported for other plants under light stress and this is probably related to the epiphytic life form.

Polyphenols: Polyphenols are antioxidant phytochemicals that tend to be present or neutralize the damaging effects of free radical. There is a decrease in the polyphenol content in all five pteridophytes from the month of August to October.

Mola et al. (1996) have observed that plant polyphenols inhibit growth of several mutants of the bacterium. Erwinia chrysanthemi and these polyphehnols remove iron from other iron ligand complexes more efficiently. They have observed growth inhibition and there in an ability to assimilate Iron In the presence of polyphenols. These mimic animal iron-binding proteins such as transfer in and protect plants by with holding Iron.

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PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN PTERIDOPHYTES OF LONHGAD AREA, PUNE, INDIA

INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS

Jin et al., (2005) have isolated Lignins from Selaginella and Polystrichum and it was confirmed that lignin was typical and angiospermous type. Takuo Ozaki et al. (1999) have studied the concentration of parallel trace elements Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Rb, Cs, Ba, La and Ce in 96 pteridophytes (fern and fern ally species) by instrumental neutron activation analysis. They found that Asplenium trichomonas was found to accumulate SC, Cr and Co to the highest concentration among 96 Pteridophytes. The highest concentration of Ca and Zn was observed for Asplenium osbscurum .

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Gavade Vasundhara Vithoba, M S Prashanth and P S Kasdam

Screening of pteridophytes growing on serpentine and metalliferous soils in Northern Italy was carried out from aerial parts of the plants and their associated soils. 12 fern species and 2 horo et al. species and they have found a significant correlation only for Zn and highest levels of Cr, Fe, Cu and Ni.

Bricks (1976) has studied the distribution of 144 species of pteridophytes in 65areas within Europe and discussed the inter-relationships between the elements and regions are demonstrated.

Stane et al. (2007) have observed the effects of growth stage and the season on the mineral concentration in Cerastium holosteoider . The concentration of most observed mineral Na, K, P, Ca, Zn and Cu were decreasing with advancing maturity.

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PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN PTERIDOPHYTES OF LONHGAD AREA, PUNE, INDIA

Cornara et al. (2007) have studied that trace element plants (12ferns and 2horsetail species).They have found a significant correlation only for Zn. The bioaccumulation factor exceeded 1 only for Cd in two species Pteridophyte seems to have developed their adaptation prevalently through mechanisms of tolerance based on metal exclusion.

Elizabeth et al. (2007) after investigating the concentrations of total Ca, N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Zn Cu, Ni and Al found that there was maximum concentration of Ca and Al and they have revealed that P. coudatum behave as a K plant.

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Gavade Vasundhara Vithoba, M S Prashanth and P S Kasdam

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3. Dixit, R. D. (1984). A Census of the Indian Pteridophytes. Flora of India , Ser. 4, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah (Calcutta). India. pp. 1-177.

4. Gaur R. D. and Bhatt,B.P. (1994) Folic utilization of some pteridophytes of Deoprayag area in Gadhwal Himalaya; India Economic Botany 48(2), 146-151.

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7. Satane Klemencic, and Branko Kramberger (2007). Effects of growth stage and the season on the mineral concentrations in Cerastium holosteoides . Central European Agriculture 7(2006) 4 767- 772.

8. Shil S. and Choudhury ,M. Dutta ( 2009 ) Ethnomedicinal Importance of Pteridophytes Used by Reang tribe of Tripura, North East India. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 634-43.

9. Subhash Chandra, C. R. Fraser-Jenkins, Alka Kumari and Archana Srivastava (2008). A Summary of the Status of Threatened Pteridophytes of India. Taiwania , 53(2): 170-209,

10. Takuo Ozaki, Schuichi Enamoto, Yoshitaka Minai,Shizuko Ambe and Yoshihiro Makide (2000). A survey of Trace elements in pteridophytes. Biological Trace Elements Research . 74; 3 259-273

11. Tauoz Michael, Hietz Peter, and Briones Oscar (2001). The significance of carotenoides and tocopherols in photorotection of seven epiphytic fern species of a Mexican cloud forest. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology , 28(8): 775-783.

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