Responses of Pteris vittata L.to Light and Temperature in Spore Germination

Pteris vittata L.,a fern,was tissue cultured for spore germination under different durations of light and darkness at different temperatures and observed under light microscope.The spore of P.vittata L.is light required and has photodormancy.Light is the major environmental factor that influences spore germination.When the fern was cultured at 25 ℃ under the light of 14 hrs/day the spores germinated at a rate of(85.4±3.1)% while no spore germination occurred at the same temperature at the day 49 in dark culture,but when the latter was transferred to culture under the light condition,the spore germination rate increased to(81.4±5.6)%.The optimal temperature for spore germination ranged from 19.41 ℃ to 30.41 ℃ under the light.The spores began to germinate within 3-5 days and their germination were completed after 6-7 weeks.The temperature beyond the optimal range reduces the spore germination percentage.