Abstract
Abstract The recovery of soil spores is a strategy to strengthen in decline or disappeared populations from natural environments. In this work, we analyzed 25 soil samples extracted from a patch of gallery forest in an “albardón” of Punta Lara Reserve, Buenos Aires. The samples were distributed in 50 Petri dishes, 25 exposed to controlled temperature and light and another 25 kept in darkness. To contribute to the identification of gametophytes and sporophytes, spores of the local species were cultured in vitro. In 18 months of trial, the appearance of gametophytes and sporophytes was observed, in a greater proportion those belonging to a dominant species in the community: Doryopteris concolor. Numerous gametophytes and sporophytes from Gastoniella chaerophylla were also obtained, a taxon not found in the “albardón” for two years. The germination index (GI) was estimated and the morphological characteristics of the gametophytes and sporophytes were recorded. This is the first contribution to the knowledge of the spore banks in Argentina, in a protected area where several threats put at risk the survival of native species. The bases to implement methods of ex situ and in situ conservation of native ferns are provided.
Highlights
Natural soil germplasm banks are a useful tool to delve into the floristic diversity of a plant community and to implement, if necessary, population reinforcements while maintaining genetic variability (i.e., Ibars & Estrelles 2012)
By analogy with the concept of persistent seed banks in the soil, spore banks are defined by the existence of spores that remain viable in the soil or substrate for long periods of time (Nondorf et al 2003; Hock et al 2006; Paul et al 2014)
The gametophytes developed in soil cultures belonged to the fern species inhabiting the “albardón”
Summary
Natural soil germplasm banks are a useful tool to delve into the floristic diversity of a plant community and to implement, if necessary, population reinforcements while maintaining genetic variability (i.e., Ibars & Estrelles 2012). They grow accompanied by climbing species, epiphytes, herbs and shrubs that can be found in the forests of southern Brazil (Closs de Marchi & Jarenkow 2008; Guerrero et al 2018) and northeastern Argentina. This floristic composition is very similar to that of the marginal forests of the Uruguay River and its tributaries (Parodi 1943; Burkart 1963; Grela 2004)
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