Specific Families and Genera > Ferns
Asplenium scolopendrium: spore seedlings
annew:
I think the usual method for hybridising ferns is to sow the spores together, then make sure the prothalli are kept at high humidity (enclosed in a polythene bag) this is to make sure that there is a film of moisture for the male gametes to swim through. If the male (antheridia) and female (archegonia) structures are studied with a hand lens or microscope it can be seen when they become ripe, then the pot can be submerged in warm water, so that the water level just rises through the prothallus mat. This makes it easier for the sperm cells to swim from one species' prothallus to that of the other species.
It is worth noting that if prothalli are very crowded, they will not produce sexual organs, so if you have sown very thickly you will need to 'patch out' small sections of the mat onto fresh sterilised compost, leaving space between them, then place again in a bag or box. This will often induce production of the sexual organs. Keep the young plants with fronds in the closed plastic bag/box for a while then when they look ready to pot on, gradually open up the bag over 2-3 weeks to get the plants ready to take the lower humidity outside.
Good luck!
Maggi Young:
As if by magic, one of our fern experts appears - thank you Anne! :-*
annew:
--- Quote from: Maggi Young on March 25, 2020, 10:14:22 AM ---As if by magic, one of our fern experts appears - thank you Anne! :-*
--- End quote ---
The magic that is Maggi Young ;)
Véronique Macrelle:
again i try to sow fern spores.
but it is long to come. on 7 species sown at the end of October/beginning of November, only 3 seem to germinate since 1 week:
Dryopteris sieboldii
Dryopteris wallichiana
and maybe the beginning of Coniogramme emeiensis... the latter only makes a few spores at a time under its leaves. we can't even really see a sporangium... with a magnifying glass some spores seem to pearl out of the leaves..., spread out in time. strange.
in short, 2 to 3 months for germination at 15/18 °C, seems like a long time! it should be warmer?
today, i discovered spores of Woodwardia ungemminata on the old unfrozen leaves. it's the first year that it makes me some.
I sow and I think maybe the emergence could be accelerated by misting to stick the spores to the substrate?
How do you do it? At what temperature?
I know this post goes back a long way, but Anders, did you get results with your "slightly old" spore seedlings?
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Carolyn:
Patience, Veronique, I think your remaining spores may germinate in the next 2 or 3 months. I keep mine cool (maybe 15 - 16C) and moist and wait…..
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