A COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION OF AMINO ACID AND FREE PROLINE OF SOME RAJASTHAN FERNS

Estimation of free amino acids and free proline in the fronds and sporophylls of five ecologically different fern species of Rajasthan is reported. Maximum quantities of these metabolites have been recorded in the heliophytic and most widely distributed drought enduring fern Pteris vittata Linn. The least quantities of amino acid and proline have been estimated in Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) Presl., a sciophytic fern restricted in its distribution at Mt Abu in Rajasthan. A gradual increase in the quantities of these metabolites from vegetative to spore bearing structures of these ferns has been observed. The possible role of these metabolites during the transition of vegetative to spore producing phase of ferns is discussed in the light of present observations.