Medium composition for the production of sporophytes of the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris

Abstract

The medium composition for the production of sporophytes from gametophytes by sexual reproduction in Adiantum capillus-veneris was investigated. The addition of 3% sucrose to Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS medium) significantly enhanced the growth of gametophyte. However, sucrose did not induce the production of a sporophyte. The elimination of NH4NO3 from the culture medium induced the production of sporophytes, although elimination of KNO3 was not effective. Reduction of total nitrogen to 25% of the original MS medium effectively promoted sporophyte yield, indicating that the nitrogenous component is one of the most important factors for the production of sporophytes by sexual reproduction in Adiantum capillus-veneris.