Abstract
Schraudolf (1962, 1964) and Voeller (1964a, b) have demonstrated that young gametophytes of 12 species of ferns in the Schizaeaceae form antheridia when supplied with gibberellic acid (GA). Hormonal concentrations of seven different gibberellic acids, GA7, GA4, GA3, GAg, GA1, GA5, and GA8, in order of decreasing relative activity, have been shown to be strikingly active in initiating formation of male reproductive organs in Anemia phyllitidis (L.) Swartz. In contrast, gibberellic acid has little or no effect on the gametophytes of a wide range of species from other families, such as the Blechnaceae, Pteridaceae, Polypodiaceae, Osmundaceae, Cyatheaceae, Davalliaceae, or Aspidiaceae (Voeller, 1964a, b). In a remarkable variety of respects, the effects of gibberellic acid on Anemia phyllitidis are indistinguishable from the effects of the naturally occurring antheridium-inducing hormone, antheridogen-B, produced by A. phyllitidis: (i) the two substances each show specificity of organ induction, i.e., antheridia are induced, but archegonia, rhizoids, papillae, etc., are not; (ii) the time interval between application of and response to either hormone is quite similar; (iii) the sequence of cell divisions giving rise to the organ is the same, and the resultant sperms swim actively and are apparently functional; (iv) and the dosage-response curve of the antheridogen is distinctive and paralleled by that for gibberellic acid.
Published Version
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