Growth and survival of Azolla filiculoides in Britain: II. Sexual reproduction

Abstract

Sporulation in the floating fern Azolla filiculoides Lam. is both frequent and widespread in Britain and might therefore play a greater part in the population dynamics of the species than has been suggested earlier reports. In laboratory experiments, increasing plant density and/or phosphorus supply resulted in increased sporulation. It was estimated that a thick mat of 8 kg m2 fresh biomass can produce 380000 microsporocarps and 85000 megasporocarps per m2. Light and temperatures > 10 °C were necessary for sporocarp germination. Sporocarps could survive exposure to both low temperatures (5 °C for at least 3 months) and sub-zero temperatures (-10 °C for at least 18 d). Sporocarps were found to survive storage in water for 3 yr and to germinate from mud samples collected in the field. In laboratory culture, sporeling growth and survival were optimal at 15 °C. There is some evidence that A. filiculoides might have adapted to the British climate since its introduction.