Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2020 number 3

The study of the ecological morphology of plants is a necessary condition for solving a number of fundamental and applied problems in the field of ecology, botany, geography and physiology of plants, when conducting global and regional environmental monitoring, as well as in the selection and introduction of plants. This approach is successfully used for the study of flowering plants of different botanical and geographical zones. Ferns in this aspect tend to fall out of the field of view of botanists. The aim of this work was to study at different levels of organization from the cellular to the organizational photosynthetic apparatus of the fern sporophyte protoepiphyte Lemmaphyllum microphyllum and attempt to answer the question about the ways of its adaptation to the conditions of existence. The laboratory complex of analysis of morphology and structure of photosynthetic apparatus of plants-Siams Mesoplant-was used. It allowed us to conduct a comprehensive analysis of L. microphyllum at the level of fronds, mesophyll cells, plastid apparatus and obtain indicators: specific surface density of fronds, the number of cells per unit area of fronds, the number of chloroplasts in one cell; fronds thickness, surface area and volume of chloroplasts, area and volume of cells, etc. It was found that adapting to living conditions on the trunks and branches of trees, as well as flat rock surfaces devoid of humus, the fern involved different organs and functions. At that completely in its morphology and anatomy showed adaptations to light and humidity mode. At the same time, adaptations were developed both for the most complete capture of light, and for protection from excess light, to reduce the loss of water and its release. They have appeared at different levels of organization and include combined xero-, meso -, helio-and sciomorphic traits that allow the species to form stable populations in cenoses. It is shown that the optimal compensatory strategy was, when reducing the area of fronds, the development of water-holding capacity of tissues and cells on the basis of polyfunction of chlorenchyma (succulentization), as well as the improvement of the conductive elements of the xylem due to the appearance of vessels. These characteristics did not solve the problem of long-term dehydration, but allowed only a short-term water deficit to be tolerated. This gives reason to call such ferns hidden succulents or subsucculents. It was shown that the optimal compensatory strategy was, with a reduction in the fronds area, the development of the water-holding ability of tissues and cells (succulentization) based on the multifunctionality of the chlorenchyma, as well as the improvement of the conductive elements of xylem due to the appearance of vessels. These characteristics did not solve the problem of prolonged dehydration, but allowed only a short-term water deficit to be tolerated. This gives grounds to call such ferns hidden succulents or subsucculents.