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UNUSUAL DARK‐GROWTH AND ANTHERIDIAL DIFFERENTIATION IN SOME GAMETOPHYTES OF THE FERN ONOCLEA SENSIBILIS
Author(s) -
Miller John H.,
Miller Pauline M.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1970.tb09931.x
Subject(s) - antheridium , gametophyte , fern , spore , biology , darkness , botany , sporophyte , frond , pteridium aquilinum , sporangium , pollen
A fertile frond of O. sensibitis was found which yielded spores with unusual growth characteristics. About 25% of the gametophytes derived from the spores were able to undergo 2‐dimensional development in darkness, in contrast to normal plants which are filamentous in darkness. When the aberrant spores were cultured in darkness under conditions of reduced ethylene concentration, the proportion of 2‐dimensional plants rose to 75%, and, moreover, up to 50% of the gametophytes produced antheridia within 2 weeks. Under comparable conditions normal gametophytes produced no antheridia. The medium from antheridial cultures of the aberrant spores failed to induce the formation of antheridia in other plants.