Abstract
Natural and synthesized hybrids of Ceratopteris were investigated to determine the effect of hybridization on the genetic system. Studies indicated that the hybrids exhibited massive spore abortion and pairing abnormalities at meiotic prophase, characteristic of “sterile diploids and triploids” reported in hybridization studies of other fern genera. However, a small percentage of viable spores also was produced by the hybrids. Cytological investigations indicated the presence of previously unreported meiotic adaptations that allowed the production of unreduced spores and reduced spores exhibiting chromatid heterozygosity. The reduced spores allow haploid gametophytes to form heterozygous zygotes in spite of intragametophytic selfing. The unreduced spores were shown to be responsible for the fertility of the “sterile” hybrid and allowed the subsequent production of up to three generations of sporophytes. The literature suggests that these meiotic adaptations are present in other fern genera and may play a significant role in evolution through hybridization.
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