Regeneration and vegetative propagation of Sphagnum palustre as factor of population stability

Abstract

The stability of the Sphagnum palustre populations on the meadows of the Kampinos National Park situated north-west of Warsaw was investigated in the period 1971-1974. Laboratory cultures were also started to establish the regenerative ability of various gametophyte parts of Sphagnum: The main stem, branches, leaves and apore germination. The green stems and apical branches of the plants showed the highest regeneration ability. Brown stems and white branches developed less intensively. Leaves showed no tendency to develop into new plants. Gametophores were found to form quicker and more effectively by way of regeneration than from spores. In natural conditions more intensive growth of branchings (new shoots) from the apical and green parts of Sphagnum was also observed, whereas the brown parts did not exhibit this ability.