Funaria Hygrometrica Hedw Research Articles

Dark-Induction of Buds in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Dark-Induction of Buds in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Dark-Induction of Buds in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Buds have been induced on the protonema of Funaria hygro- metrica raised from spores in the dark on media containing kinetin, with and without sucrose.

Observations on the Mineral Nutrition of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Observations on the Mineral Nutrition of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Some Factors Evoking Formation of Sex Organs in Funaria

In Funaria hygromrnetrica, low temperature (100 C) is the critical factor in the induction of sex organs while day length seems to have no effect as long as a certain minimum period of illumination is provided. The purpose of this study was to investigate some of the factors which effect the initiation of sexuality in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. as evidenced by the formation and functioning of antherida and archegonia. Although the stimuli which trigger the onset of the reproductive phase have been investigated in algae, fungi, and flowering plants, the Bryophyta have been relatively neglected in this respect. Photoperiod has been implicated in gametangiophore production in the liverwort Marchantia (Voth & Hamner 1949) and has been shown to affect development, although not to cause initiation, of the sporophyte of Polytrichum aloides (Hughes 1962). Morris (1958) stated that in five species of leafy liverworts, the onset of sexual reproduction is primarily a photoperiodic response. Benson-Evans (1964) reported that sexuality in Sphagnum plumulosum is initiated by short days but that Polytrichum aloides appears to be day length neutral and, in fact, initiation of sexuality is temperature-dependent. Von Wettstein (1924) was able to bring about sexual reproduction in Funaria hygrometrica by 'culturing it in pots on the north side of his Moosgewichshaus where, he stated, the plants would remain especially cool in

The Effects of Certain Sugars on Spore Germination in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

The Effects of Certain Sugars on Spore Germination in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

The Effects of Certain Sugars on Spore Germination in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

The Effects of Certain Sugars on Spore Germination in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

The Heterotrichous Habit in the Protonema of the Bryales

DURING recent investigations on the development in aseptic culture of a range of typical representatives of the Bryales (species of twelve genera, from six orders) we have found that the protonema possesses a more definite morphological pattern than would appear to have been appreciated previously. Examination of the advancing edge of isolated cultures growing on a solid substratum (Knop's agar or filter paper moistened with Knop's solution) has shown that in all the species studied, with the one exception of the aquatic moss Cinclidotus fontinaloides (Hedw.) P. Beauv., there is a striking distinction between a horizontal system of filaments creeping in or on the substratum and an aerial system of filaments arising vertically or obliquely from the horizontal system. This “heterotrichous habit”, to use a term employed by Fritsch1 for the corresponding condition in the algae, is well seen in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. (Fig. 1), in which the prostrate system of a well-developed protonema is formed by stout brownwalled filaments with oblique septa and few chloroplasts, while the filaments of the aerial system, on the contrary, have hyaline walls, straight septa and numerous chloroplasts.