Gametophytes and young sporophytes of Botrychium jenmanii in axenic culture

• Published in: International journal of plant sciences 1993-03, Vol.154 (1), p.68-74
• Main Authors: Whittier, D.P. (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN), Thomas, R.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ANATOMIA DE LA PLANTA; ANATOMIE VEGETALE; Axenic culture; Biological and medical sciences; CELL DIFFERENTIATION; CULTIVO DE TEJIDOS; CULTURE DE TISSU; Development; DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES; DIFERENCIACION CELULAR; DIFFERENCIATION CELLULAIRE; Embryos; ESPORAS; ETAPAS DE DESARROLLO; ETAPAS DE DESARROLLO DE LA PLANTA; Fertilization; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gametophytes; GERMINACION; GERMINATION; Leaves; Nitrogen; Petioles; PLANT ANATOMY; PLANT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES; PLANT MORPHOLOGY; Plant physiology and development; Plant reproduction; Plant roots; Plants; PTERIDOPHYTA; Sexual reproduction; SPORE; SPORES; Sporophytes; STADE DE DEVELOPPEMENT; STADE DE DEVELOPPEMENT VEGETAL; TISSUE CULTURE; Vegetative and sexual reproduction, floral biology, fructification
• ISSN: 1058-5893; 1537-5315
• DOI: 10.1086/297091

Spores of Botrychium jenmanii germinate after 5 wk in darkness in axenic culture on a nutrient medium containing arginine as the nitrogen source. Gametophytes from crowded cultures are narrow with an antheridial ridge as wide as the ventral region, making the gametophytes I-shaped in cross section. The antheridial ridge bears sunken antheridia, and the more or less vertical flanks of this ridge usually bear numerous archegonia. Gametophytes from crowded cultures are often contorted with one or more bends. Individually grown gametophytes are long and straight with the median dorsal ridge bearing exposed antheridia on its apex and the flanks of this ridge bearing numerous archegonia. The antheridia and archegonia are functional in axenic culture, and fertilization occurs on up to 60% of the gametophytes after flooding with water. About 2 mo after fertilization, the embryo is large enough to cause a swelling on the side of the gametophyte. After 3 mo, the primary root breaks through the gametophyte followed by the first leaf. No rudimentary leaves are formed. The primary leaf is etiolated or photosynthetic depending on whether it develops in the dark or light, respectively. Two more leaves are formed in less than a year.