The influence of nutrition and environment on spore germination and culture of ferns

Abstract

(1) Each fern species, like the higher plants, has its own characteristics of growth and environmental requirements. However conditions for spore germination are quite similar to those for germination of other lower plants.

(2) Light is critical for spore germination but external supplies of inorganic salts or carbohydrate not only reduce fern spore germination but also formation of the sporophytes from fern prothalli.

(3) Distilled water agar (1%) medium with slightly acidic or alkaline pH produces rapid germination of fern spores.

(4) The germination of spores is .dependent on the storage period 25 well as the storage conditions prior to sowing.

(5) Cultures of container grown Asplenium bulbiferum and Adiantum raddianum were also examined. Both ferns thrived under as high as 600g N/m³ and 400g P/m³ fertilizations although the hardy Asplenium was less vulnerable to levels of K and lime applications than the Adiantum which requires balanced NPK fertilization so as to enhance the uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg for production of good quality plants. Lime is important at high N and low P to improve P uptake than a more acid medium.

(6) Asplenium fern can also tolerate a more exposed and drier soil environment than Adiantum: the former was found to grow best between 12,000-16,000 lux light, a temperature of 22°c and 60% container capacity. In comparison, Adiantum required 6,000-10,000 lux light, a temperature of 15°c, and 80% container capacity of soil moisture.