Seasonal variation in free proline content in Christella dentata (Forssk) brownsey & jermy

Pteridophytes are shade loving plants which generally require low temperature and high humidity for their optimum growth. But in spite of xeric and hostile climate, a good number of pteridophytes grow in various parts of Rajasthan. In the present investigation, study on stress physiology of the fern Christella dentata has been attempted, by estimating free proline content in the leaves of this fern. C. dentata is an orophilous fern i.e. not specific to any particular altitude, habitat or exposure to sun. The species is also variable with regard to nature of rhizome, height of fronds and soil moisture. It often forms large dense colonies. It prefers well exposed fringes of forest and similar localities. Plants growing in shaded areas often have larger pinnae, greenish stipe and rachis. Water stress plays an important role in the functioning of various metabolic processes in a plant body. The influence of proline on the mechanism of drought resistance is well known in angiosperms but its role in pteridophytes is less studied.