Abstract:
The Ceratopteris genus is a model plant system in allowing the study of life and reproductive cycles of spores, allowing for spore to gamete cellular and physical observation. The triangle water fern, Ceratopteris richardii, provided for visual identification of this transition. Spores of different densities were inoculated, cultured, and observed in germination and sexual expression. We estimated higher spore densities increase percentages of sexually expressed gametes, male and hermaphrodite; and concluded that spore density has a direct effect on germination and sexual expression numbers. The ability to observe the spore to gamete transition leads to opportunity in manipulation of gametes for biological studies …show more content…
Increases in spore density from the source sporophyte density medium vials showed an increase spore to gamete cycling in the inoculated samples (Table 2.) Studies have determined that the ratio of sexual expression within cultures is dependant upon the spore densities at inoculation (2.) The total calculation of spores for experimental purpose was 577 spores determined within six each 23 cm2 Petri dishes, generating a total of 738 gametes, resulting in 66 combined mature sexually expressive male and hermaphrodite gametes .