Effect of cadmium on spore germination and gametophyte development in some ferns.

Abstract

Spores of aquatic (Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brogn), epiphytic (Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Sm.) and terrestrial (Christella parasitica (L.) Tardieu, Pteris ensiformis Bum., P. vittata L., Thelypteris augescence (Link.) Munz. and Johnston, ~elopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel., and Adiantum lunulatum Burm.) were collected from fertile fronds from the greenhouse of the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, and stored in a dessicator under sterile conditions. Solid Knop's median (Miller and Greany 1979) with agar was used for spore cultures. The culture medium in petriplates was dosed with ca&nium chloride to attain the following concentrations of Cd: 0.0, 0.1, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 ppm. One rag of spores was then sprinkled with a piece of glazed paper into the culture medium under asceptic conditions and the petriplates were maintained Send reprint requests to Santha Devi at the above address.