In the laboratory, non-chlorophyllic (orthodox) fern spores are long-lived. However, their potential longevity might not reflect ecological longevity, which determines their viability within the natural soil spore bank. Our aim was to compare ecological (in a semi-natural soil bank) and potential (storage in laboratory–suboptimal conditions) longevity and vigour of fern spores over a period of five months. We assessed these in Llavea cordifolia Lag., Pellaea ovata (Desv.) Weath., and Thelypteris ovata R.P. St. John; spores collected from a cloud forest in Hidalgo, Mexico. The spore samples were enclosed in permeable phytoplankton bags and buried in situ at 10 cm soil depth, whereas controls were stored in glass vials in the laboratory at room temperature (21.6 ± 1.8 °C). After one, three, and five months, the spores of both treatments were germinated, and the final germination percentage and vigour traits (lag time, germination rate, and mean germination time) were evaluated. After five months, the spore viability of three species remained high under both storage conditions but their vigour was affected differentially. The soil-stored spores of L. cordifolia remained more vigorous and had a shorter lag and mean germination time than laboratory-stored spores. In the other two species, spore vigour declined in both storage treatments, reflecting in longer lag and mean germination time and lower germination rate. In all three species, the moist soil environment of the cloud forest maintained spore viability for over five months. However, the decline of spore vigour might be disadvantageous when competing for resources during later stages of colonization. Our study is a first experimental approach to understand the time-effect of soil storage on viability and vigour of fern spores when compared to laboratory storage. Long-term studies in different soils, climates and vegetation types are necessary to determine spore ecological longevity of different fern species.

在实验室中，非叶绿素（正统）蕨类孢子是长寿的。但是，它们的潜在寿命可能无法反映生态寿命，这决定了它们在天然土壤孢子库中的生存能力。我们的目的是比较蕨类孢子在五个月内的生态（在半天然土壤库中）和潜力（在实验室处于次优条件下的储存）寿命和活力。我们在Llavea cordifolia Lag。，Pellaea ovata（Desv。）Weath。和Thelypteris ovata RP St. John中进行了评估。孢子从墨西哥伊达尔戈的云雾森林中收集。将孢子样品封入可渗透的浮游植物袋中并就地掩埋在土壤深度10厘米处，而对照则在室温（21.6±1.8°C）下存放在实验室的玻璃小瓶中。1、3和5个月后，两种处理的孢子均发芽，并评估最终发芽率和活力性状（滞后时间，发芽率和平均发芽时间）。5个月后，在两种储存条件下，三种物种的孢子活力仍然很高，但是它们的活力受到不同的影响。堇菜土壤贮藏孢子与实验室储存的孢子相比，其活力更强，滞后时间和平均发芽时间更短。在其他两个物种中，两种贮藏处理中的孢子活力均下降，这反映了较长的滞后和平均发芽时间以及较低的发芽率。在这三个物种中，云林的潮湿土壤环境在五个多月内都保持了孢子的生存能力。但是，在定殖后期争夺资源时，孢子活力的下降可能是不利的。我们的研究是第一个实验方法，旨在了解与实验室贮藏相比，土壤贮藏对蕨类孢子活力和活力的时间影响。为了确定不同蕨类植物的孢子生态寿命，必须在不同的土壤，气候和植被类型上进行长期研究。