A Comparative Study of the Gametophytic Generation in thePolystichum aculeatumGroup (Pteridophyta)

The gametophytic generation of the allotetraploidPolystichum aculeatumand its diploid parents,Polystichum setiferumandPolystichum lonchitis, was studied in order to compare their morphology, gametangial ontogeny, and breeding system. Six populations, two of each species, were selected for spore coll...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of plant sciences 2003-03, Vol.164 (2), p.295-303
Main Authors: Pangua, Emilia, Quintanilla, Luis G., Sancho, Alejandra, Pajarón, Santiago
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bisexuality
Diploidy
Female animals
Ferns
Gametophytes
Hair
Male animals
Plant reproduction
Spore germination
Sporophytes
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Summary:The gametophytic generation of the allotetraploidPolystichum aculeatumand its diploid parents,Polystichum setiferumandPolystichum lonchitis, was studied in order to compare their morphology, gametangial ontogeny, and breeding system. Six populations, two of each species, were selected for spore collection. Germination, gender expression, and antheridiogen experiments were established on agar and soil culture media. Germination percentage in the tetraploid was higher, and the only morphological difference was found in the length of marginal hairs that were also longer inP. aculeatum. Gender expression in the allotetraploid was a mixture of the diploids. Differences in gender expression of both diploids, with many male prothalli inP. lonchitisand many female ones inP. setiferum, may favor the formation of the hybrid that originated the allotetraploid. An antheridiogen system was observed in bothP. aculeatumandP. setiferum, and each species responded to one another’s antheridiogen. In contrast, exudates fromP. lonchitisfailed to induce precocious maleness within the species but did induce an antheridiogen response in gametophytes ofP. setiferum.
ISSN:1058-5893
1537-5315
DOI:10.1086/346165