Sporophytes appeared on most gametophytes of Thelypteris palustris (Salisb.) Schott that reached a certain size, which is interpreted to be a critical size of gametophytes for the production of sporophytes. After sporophytes were produced, attached gametophytes ceased dry weight growth, but the gametophytes which did not produce sporophytes grew successively. It was hypothesized that matter produced by gametophytes was being supplied to young sporophytes. Photosynthesis and respiration of gametophytes with attached sporophytes were not significantly different from that of gametophytes without sporophytes. Photosynthetic activity of gametophytes dropped from 0.18 to 0.03 μmol CO2 g−1 s−1 during the growth period. The higher photosynthetic rates of gametophytes in the early growth stage were important for reaching the critical size for sporophyte production in a short time. Sporophytes in the ‘one leaf stage’ averaged 0.14 μmol CO2 g−1 s−1 of photosynthetic activity. The results show that sporophytes that had expanded the first leaf grow by their own photosynthetic production. Gametophytes allocated the photosynthate for sporophytes and it was an important aid before the one-leaf stage. The supportive role of gametophytes ended at that stage.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Albaum, H. G. (1938) Normal growth, regeneration, and adventitious outgrowth formation in fern prothallia. American Journal of Botany 25: 37--44.
Bauer, H., Gallmetzer, C. & Sato, T. (1991) Phenology and photosynthetic activity in sterile and fertile sporophytes of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott. Oecologia 86: 159--162.
Bell, P. R. & Zafar, A. H. (1961) Changes in the level of the protein nitrogen during growth of the gametophyte and the initiation of the sporophyte of Dryopteris borreri Newn. Annals of Botany 25:531--546.
Böhning, R. H. & Burnside, C. A. (1956) The effect of light intensity on rate of apparent photosynthesis in leaves of sun and shade plants. American Journal of Botany 43: 557--561.
Cooke, T. J. & Racusen, R. H. (1988) The growth form of developing fern gametophytes: a theoretical consideration of form and function relationships. Annals of Botany 62: 633--641.
Cousens, M. I. (1989) Reproductive strategy of pteridophytes. In: Plant reproductive ecology (eds J. L. Doust & L. V. Doust) Chapter 15. pp. 307--328. Oxford University Press, New York.
DeMaggio, A. E. & Wetmore, R. H. (1961) Morphogenetic studies on the fern Todea barbara. III. Experimental embryology. American Journal of Botany 48: 551--565.
Farrar, D. R. (1967) Gametophytes of four tropical fern genera reproducing independently of their sporophyte in the southern Appalachians. Science 155: 1266--1267.
Friend, D. J. C. (1975) Adaptation and adjustment of photosynthetic characteristics of gametophytes and sporophytes of Hawaiian tree-fern (Cibotium glaucum) grown at different irradiances. Photosynthetica 9: 157--164.
Hagar, W. G. & Freeberg, J. A. (1980) Photosynthetic rates of sporophytes and gametophytes of the fern Todea barbara. Plant Physiology 65: 584--586.
Haufler, C. H. (1997) Mode and mechanisms of speciation in pteridophytes. In: Evolution and diversification of land plants (eds K. Iwatsuki & P. H. Ravan) pp. 291--307. Springer, Tokyo.
Kikuzawa, K. (1995) Leaf phenology as an optimal strategy for carbon gain in plants. Canadian Journal of Botany 73: 158--163.
Maeda, O. (1969) On the dry matter productivity of two ferns, Osmunda cinnamomea and Dryopteris crassirhizoma, in relation to their geographical distribution in Japan. Japanese Journal of Botany 20: 237--267.
Martin, C. E., Mitchell, T., Allen, T. & Haufler, C. H. (1995) C3 photosynthesis in the gametophyte of the epiphytic CAM fern Pyrrosia longifolia. American Journal of Botany 82: 441--444.
Miller, J. H. & Miller, P. M. (1961) The effect of different light conditions and sucrose on the growth and development of the gametophyte of the fern, Onoclea sensibilis. American Journal of Botany 48: 154--159.
Mottier, D. M. (1925) Polyembryony in certain Polypodiaceae and Osmundaceae. Botanical Gazette 80: 331--336.
Mottier, D. M. (1927) Behavior of certain fern prothallia under prolonged cultivation. Botanical Gazette 83: 244--267.
Nobel, P. S., Calkin, H. W. & Gibson, A. C. (1984) Influences of PAR, temperature and water vapor concentration on gas exchange by ferns. Physiologia Plantarum 62: 527--534.
Pickett, F. L. (1914) Some ecological adaptations of certain fern prothallia Camptosorus rhizophyllus Link Asplenium platyneuron Oakes. American Journal of Botany 1: 477--501.
Prange, R. K., Ormord, D. P. & Proctor, J. T. A. (1983) Effect of water stress on gas exchange in fronds of the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro). Journal of Experimental Botany 34: 1108--1116.
Prange, R. K., Ormord, D. P. & Proctor, J. T. A. (1984) Effect of frond age on frond elongation, gas exchange, and water relation in the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Canadian Journal of Botany 62: 2094--2100.
Renault, S., Bonnenmain, J. & Gaudillere, J. P. (1992) Physiological aspect of sugar exchange between the gametophyte and sporophyte of Polytricum formosum. Plant Physiology 100: 1815--1822.
Rushing, A. E. & Anderson, W. B. (1996) The sporophyte--gametophyte junction in the moss Acaulon muticum (Pottiaceae): early stage of development. American Journal of Botany 83: 1274--1281.
Sato, T. (1992) Size dependency of gametophytes decay in Athyrium brevifrons Nakai during spring desiccation. Ecological Research 7: 1--7.
Sheffield, E. (1994) Alternation of generations in ferns: Mechanisms and significance. Biological Review 69: 331--343.
Whittier, D. P. & Steeves, T. A. (1960) The induction of apogamy in the bracken fern. Canadian Journal of Botany 38: 925--930.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Sakamaki, Y., Ino, Y. Contribution of fern gametophytes to the growth of produced sporophytes on the basis of carbon gain. Ecol Res 14, 59–69 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.1999.141277.x
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.1999.141277.x