Effects of Inorganic Nitrogen Availability on the Sporophytes of Acrostichum Aureum L.

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 condi tions. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.