Spore Germination, Gametophyte Development and Studies of the Growth Rate of Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

Spore culture of Adiantum capillus-veneris was carried out with a view to massively raising new fernlets cultured in growth nutrient with agar and to study its growth rate. Petri-dishes B, C, D and E containing modified Moores nutrient were used with ‘A’ containing wet soil without nutrient and served as control. All the Petri-dishes were autoclaved for 15 minutes and allowed to cool before sowing sterilized spores in three replicates and maintained at pH 5.80 and 23±2 °C with cool fluorescent white light in the incubator. Spores imbibed water from the nutrient, ruptured and germination started six days after sowing with emergence of colourless, uniseriate, elongated filamentous rhizoid. Prothallial cell which was green in colour started growing perpendicularly to the rhizoid. The germination rate was scored at an interval of four days for thirty days. Various stages of growth recorded include filamentous, spatulate, prothallus and two leaved fernlets. The heart-shaped gametophyte developed between 27-60 days with 12-16 rhizoids, archegonia and antheridia. Both archegonia and antheridia were found on each gametophyte, showing the evidence of being homosporous fern. This type of gametophyte growth and development is called Drynaria type. After 8 weeks from the transfer into the garden soil, plant height and increase in the number of leaves were observed and recorded. No growth was observed in the control showed there is need for protocol in raising massive fernlets rapidly within a short time. The study showed that A. capillus-veneris could be raised easily from freshly collected spores