Accumulation of Natural Antioxidants in Ferns Exposed to Mutagenic Stress

Different species of ferns were analyzed for the modulations in the pool of non-enzymatic antioxidants in response to the maleic hydrazide treatments. Treatments at very low doses were found to trigger the accumulation of both ascorbate and proline contents. Total amount of protein and chlorophyll contents showed varying degree of sensitivity in all cultivars of ferns. Proline accumulation was found to be high in treated plants compared with control. Proline, ascorbate and flavonoid contents were found to be accumulated in all plants exposed to high doses of maleic hydrazide. All the three species showed high proneness towards the mutagen. Improved tolerance in treated plants might be explained on the basis of the elevated level of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants.