Studies on the physiology and propagation of the ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris

Abstract

SynopsisThe effect of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), water, temperature and nutrition on frond emergence, vegetative frond production, fertile frond production, vegetative propagation and dormancy is examined. Ostrich fern plants will not break winter dormancy until they have received a minimum amount of cold exposure below a base temperature which is above 5.8°C and may be as high as 20°C. After the plants have received their chilling requirement, vegetative frond emergence does not occur until temperatures at or above ca. 9.3°C are reached. Percent germination and rate of emergence increases up to ca. 24°C. Photosynthetic photon flux density, water availability and mineral nutrition can affect both vegetative and fertile frond production but water availability appears to be the most critical. A mild water stress of −0.15MPa can have significant effects on water status and gas exchange in fronds. Sporophyte plants for field production have been produced vegetatively from detached meristems occurring naturally on the rhizomes, and through fertilization of axenic gametophytes.

Effects of Storage Temperature, Humidity and Duration on Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris(L.) Todaro) Quality

“…However, since all ostrich fern fiddleheads are harvested from wild stands, the availability of fiddleheads, currently estimated at between 250,000 and 500,000 kg annually, has never been sufficient to satisfy market demand. Considerable research in various aspects of ostrich fern production has been conducted to understand the fern's biology and increase field production (Prange, 1985(Prange, , 1987Prange and von Aderkas, 1985).…”