Spore morphology, gametophyte development and conservation of Thelypteris abbiattii and T. hispidula (Thelypteridaceae) in Punta Lara Natural Reserve, Buenos Aires.

Abstract

Spore morphology, gametophyte development and conservation of Thelypteris abbiattii and T. hispidula (Thelypteridaceae) in Punta Lara Natural Reserve, Buenos Aires. The morphology of the spores and the gametophyte development of Thelypteris abbiattii and T. hispidula from Punta Lara Natural Reserve (Buenos Aires, Argentina) were studied. Spores are monolete, folded, the folds have an equinated margin and a supralesural fold is also observed. The spore germination was conducted in Dyer medium and occurred between 7-12 days. In both species the germination is Vittaria type and the gametophyte development is Aspidium type. Adult gametophytes were observed after 50 days, are typical cordate and bisexual. Depending on the species, sporophyte formation occurs between 90 to 130 days. There were differences between the species analyzed in the time of appearance of the hairs of the gametophyte and pubescence of first leaves of the sporophyte. The results contribute to the systematic of these ferns and to conservation studies that develop in Argentina