Indicators of phosphorus deficiency in Azolla pinnata (Salviniales, Pteridophyta)

Sood, A. and Ahluwalia, A. S. and Dua, S. (2005) Indicators of phosphorus deficiency in Azolla pinnata (Salviniales, Pteridophyta). Acta Botanica Hungarica, 47 (1-2). pp. 197-205. ISSN 0236-6495

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Abstract

Prolonged incubation of Azolla pinnata in phosphorus deficient medium resulted in the highest relative growth on 4th day but it ceased after 12th day. There was a decrease in heterocyst frequency of Anabaena azollae (endosymbiont) with prolonged incubation in such medium. The cyanobiont did not differentiate akinetes during the course of 16-days of incubation. Anthocyanin content and total proteins dropped in phosphorus starved Azolla plants. However, tissue phosphorus increased up to 8th day and decreased thereafter. Activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases elevated up to 12th day and declined afterward in phosphorus deprived Azolla. This investigation clearly reflected that Azolla pinnata sustained its growth and metabolic activities in -P conditions during early period of growth (up to 8th day) and further prolongation of phosphorus starvation resulted in appearance of phosphorus deficiency symptoms that can act as indicators of phosphorus deficiency in the water fern, Azolla pinnata.

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