In vitro culture of Osmunda regalis fern

Abstract

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to assess the behaviour of the fern Osmunda regalis in in vitro culture, to identify the most suitable conditions for possible micropropagation. Starting material was constituted by spores harvested from a mature plant. Spores, germinated on gelled Hoagland and Arnon growth medium, produced normal gametophytes and sporophytes. Sporophytes cultivated both on MS and Hoagland and Arnon growth media consistently were susceptible to tissue vitrification, even when different cytokinins were used. On hormone-free growth medium, sporophytes looked normal and underwent considerable growth but secondary meristems were produced only rarely. These sporophytes differentiated numerous sporangia containing spores capable of high percentage germination on the same growth medium. Gametophytes obtained from these spores produced sporophytes which were then successfully acclimated.