Abstract
The economic ferns of Mindanao, Philippines are slowly being lost and threatened because of deforestation and increasing population. This study was conducted to find ways of conserving these ferns before they would completely disappear from their natural habitats. Spores of some economic ferns viz. Platycerium grande, Asplenium nidus, Blechnum orientale, Cyathea contaminans, Leucostegia immersa, Asplenium decorum, Pteris mutilata, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Pteris mutilata var. victoriae, Osmunda banksiifolia, Lygodium japonicum and Lygodium flexuosum were culturedin vitro to find out the appropriate conditions for spore germination and to monitor prothallial and sporophyte development. Among these species of ferns, the highest percentage of spore germination was observed in Lygodium flexuosum, Asplenium nidus and Blechnum orientale (94%-95%) thirty days after sowing. All of them formed prothalli which later gave rise to sporophytes (plantlets). The sporophytes of Platycerium grande, Blechnum orientale, Asplenium nidus and Lygodium flexuosum were successfully transplanted in potting medium. Thus, spore culture is one way of conserving and propagating these ferns.
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