Effect of Hyperthermia on Photosynthetic Pigments of Some Selected Fern Taxa of Sitamata Wild Life Sanctuary, Rajasthan

Rajasthan, the state is situated in the north western part of India and covers as area of 3, 42, 274 sq.km. Despite the hostile climatic conditions of the state, pteridophytes which otherwise known as shade and moisture loving plants. Sitamata wild life sanctuary is located at southwest region of Rajasthan. Different species of pteridophytes in this region exhibit significant variation in thermal stability of their photosynthetic pigments of some pteridophytic flora of Sitamata wild life sanctuary, Rajasthan. Studies reveal that total chlorophyll contents are maximum in Ceratopteris thallictroides and Selaginella repanda and minimum in Ampelopteris prolifera. The other species range between these two. Total carotenoid contents were found maximum in Cheilanthes bicolor and minimum in Selaginella repanda. These observations suggest that species with greater resistance to drought possess higher quantity of carotenoids and show lesser degradation in their chlorophyll pigments during stress conditions. Thus, Ampelopteris prolifera, Cheilanthes bicolor and Christella dentata are most resistant to heat and drought conditions while A. capillus-veneris, Ceratopteris thallictroides and Selaginella repanda are the least resistant taxa to heat and drought conditions.