Effects of inorganic nitrogen availability on the sporophytes of Acrostichum aureum L.

Abstract

Plants grown at low irradiance were fertilized with 0, 60, and 600 g m-3 NH4NO3 once every fortnight. Plants treated with high N concentrations showed an increased growth, producing longer and broader fronds with larger areas, and were darker green in colour. Nitrogen also increased the content of chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids per leaf area unit. Different N treatments did not affect the photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem 2, as reflected by the high values of Chl fluorescence kinetics F(v)/F(m), ranging between 0.81 to 0.84, and F(v)/F0 of 4.30 to 5.10. An increase in photochemical quenching (q(P)), accompanied by a decrease in non-photochemical quenching (q(N)), was observed in sporophytes fertilized with increased concentrations of NH4NO3. Nitrogen availability allowed Sporophytes of Acrostichum aureum to become more established under natural conditions.