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DIFFERENTIAL ANTHERIDIOGEN RESPONSE AND EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISMS IN CYSTOPTERIS
Author(s) -
Haufler Christopher H.,
Ranker Thomas A.
Publication year - 1985
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.1537-2197.1985.tb08323.x
Subject(s) - biology , fern , botany , taxon , interspecific competition , interspecific hybridization , gametophyte , evolutionary biology , pollen , hybrid
It has been demonstrated that antheridiogens determine gametangial initiation in cultures of some homosporous fern gametophytes. Studies of natural populations have implicated these compounds as breeding system controllers. In Cystopteris , response to antheridiogen varied significantly among species. While Cystopteris protrusa responded to exogenous antheridiogen, C. bulbifera did not. The allopolyploid derivative of these two species, C. tennesseensis , had an intermediate level of response. This marked physiological difference among morphologically similar taxa is valuable in delineating species and suggests a mechanism that may be associated with interspecific hybridization.