Production of sporophytic plants of Cyathea lepifera, a tree fern, from in vitro cultured gametophyte

Abstract

Spores of Cyathea lepifera were cultured aseptically on half strength Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS medium) without sucrose. Germinated spores grew to form heart-shaped gametophytes after about 30 days of culture that initiated both antheridia and archegonia. Mature gametophytic tissues can be subcultured on the same medium. The addition of sucrose to the culture medium enhanced the growth rate significantly, but it did not induce the production of a sporophytic plant. When MS medium without sucrose was diluted to 1/10, 1/20, 1/40 or 1/80, sporophytic plants were produced. Sporophytic plants can be propagated on full strength of MS medium with or without sucrose by excising and culturing a part of a shoot tip.