Salinity Tolerance of Four Hardy Ferns from the Genus Dryopteris Adans. Grown under Different Light Conditions

Hardy ferns form a group of attractive garden perennials with an unknown response to abiotic stresses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of three species of ferns of Dryopteris genus (D. affinis, D. atrata and D. filix-mas) and one cultivar (D. filix-mas cv. “Linearis-Polydactylon”) to salinity and light stress. The plants were grown in full sun and shade and watered with 50 and 100 mM dm−3 NaCl solution. All taxa treated with 100 mM NaCl responded with reduced height, leaf greenness index and fresh weight of the above-ground part. In D. affinis and D. atrata salinity caused leaf damage manifested by necrotic spots, which was not observed in the other two taxa. The effect of NaCl depended on light treatments and individual taxon. D. affinis and D. atrata were more tolerant to salinity when growing under shade. Contrary to that, D. filix-mas cv. “Linearis-Polydactylon” seemed to show significantly greater tolerance to this stress under full sun. Salt-treated D. filix-mas cv. “Linearis-Polydactylon” plants accumulated enhanced amounts of K+ in the leaves, which might be associated with the taxon’s tolerance to salinity. Among the investigated genotypes, D. filix-mas cv. “Linearis-Polydactylon” seemed the most and D. affinis and D. atrata the least tolerant to salinity and light stress.