Effects of Exogenous Cytokinins on Spore Germination and Gametophyte Morphogenesis of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott in vitro Culture

Abstract

The impact of exogenous cytokinins (kinetin, zeatin, 6-benzylaminopurine, and N6-2-isopentenyladenine) on the pattern of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott spore germination, gametophyte growth and morphology in vitro have been studied. It was found that all studied cytokinins significantly retarded spore germination, inhibited gametophyte growth, caused deformations and decrease in the thallus size, and suppressed the development of reproductive structures and sporophyte growth at the concentration of 10–5 М. The reduction of the hormone concentration to 10–8 М stimulated the gametophyte development, induced cell divisions, particularly in the apical zone, due to which some of thalli were deformed, promoted the production of rhizoids, affected the formation of antheridia and archegonia, and slowed the sporophyte development.