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An Overview of the Study of Soil Spore Bank of Ferns: Need for Suitable Exploitation in India

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Abstract

The large quantity of fern spores deposited on the ground after dispersal may germinate immediately in favourable habitat or may form a soil spore bank which has immense potential for ecological conservation of species. As the buried spores are known to remain viable for several years, establishment and regeneration of fern populations and re-colonization of the species in new sites may occur. Fern spores in the soil are the source of future gametes, which allow fertilization by the union of gametes from spores that were produced in different years and in consequence develop into sporophytes with novel genetic combinations leading to additional biodiversity. This may filter fitness fluctuations of earlier growing seasons. In areas where restoration of the original vegetation is necessary it is very important to study soil spore banks. As such, soil spore banks have immense value not only as a resource for in situ restoration of dwindling populations, but also in re-establishing extinct communities. India being a rich source of pteridophytic flora with diverse ecological and economical values, the Indian soil is largely unexplored for natural fern soil spore bank study. There is enormous scope in this field of research in India to increase knowledge of soil spore banks of ferns for conservation purposes particularly for the threatened fern species of ecological importance.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support in the form of MRP (F. No. 41-489/2012 (SR) dated 16th July, 2012) from University Grant Commission (GOI), New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged. The research is also Grant aided by DST-PURSE, University of Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal. The kind assistance given by Dr. Neera Sen Sarkar, Assistant Professor, and Shri Debadrito Das, Research Scholar of Botany Department, University of Kalyani is thankfully acknowledged. Special thanks to Prof. Animesh K. Datta, Professor, Shri Aninda Mandal, Research Scholar, and Shri Amrik Mondal, ex student, Department of Botany, University of Kalyani. The authors gratefully acknowledge the valuable comments and suggestions given by anonymous reviewers which helped a lot to integrate details in the manuscript and improve the quality.

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  1. Pteridology-Palaeobotany Section, Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, 741235, West Bengal, India

    Sudha Gupta, Madhuparna Hore & Subikash Biswas

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  1. Sudha Gupta
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Gupta, S., Hore, M. & Biswas, S. An Overview of the Study of Soil Spore Bank of Ferns: Need for Suitable Exploitation in India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 84, 779–798 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0245-z

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