GERMINACION DE LA ESPORA, MORFOLOGIA DEL GAMETOFITO Y EXPRESION SEXUAL DE POLYPODIUM FEUILLEI BERTERO (POLYPODIACEAE)

José María Gabriel y Galán; Carmen Prada; Cristina Rolleri

Authors

José María Gabriel y Galán Departamento de Biología Vegetal I; Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas; Universidad Complutense
Carmen Prada Departamento de Biología Vegetal I; Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas; Universidad Complutense
Cristina Rolleri Laboratorio de Estudios de Anatomía Vegetal Evolutiva y Sistemática (LEAVES), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo de La Plata.

Keywords:

Polypodium feuillei, spore, gametophyte, morphology, sexual expression

Abstract

This work deals with the study of the morphological development and sexual expression of the gametophyte of Polypodium feuillei. Multispore cultures on mineral agar were used to sow spores. In less than three weeks vigorous germination was observed, with percentages of germination of 78%. Pattern of germination is of Vittaria type. The gametophyte of P. feuillei presents a long filamentous phase, which grows for about two weeks, followed by a laminar phase. Ten weeks after sowing, prothalli exhibit a cordate-winged form before reaching maturity, and bear abundant hairs in the margin of the wings and in the abaxial surface of the lamina. This model of ontogeny is of Drynaria type. At sexual maturity, about 25 weeks after sowing, P. feuillei develop first female gametophytes, which have more vigorous growth than the male ones. Only a few prothalli become bisexual.