Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

Fern Conservation: Spore, Gametophyte, and Sporophyte Ex Situ Storage, In Vitro Culture, and Cryopreservation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Current Advances in Fern Research

Abstract

Many species of ferns and lycophytes are threatened by habitat destruction, over-collecting, invasive species, and climate change, and plans to secure their in situ and ex situ conservation are urgently needed. However, there has not been a development of standard methods for fern ex situ storage and conservation, as there has been for seed plants. This is likely due to the fact that ferns have been less studied and are less understood than seed plants and that there has been less funding and institutional focus on them for conservation purposes when compared with domesticated or wild seed plants. Tissues from different stages of the fern and lycophyte life cycle can be used as a ready source of germplasm for ex situ conservation. Spore storage is generally the most efficient method for ex situ fern conservation, but there are also situations where storing gametophytes or sporophytes can be extremely useful. The longevity of spores at −20 °C, the standard seed banking temperature, may vary with the species. Storage in LN should improve longevity in spores and is likely necessary for non-spore tissues. Recent results of a study on the viability of spores, gametophytes, and sporophytes after 20 years of storage in liquid nitrogen is used as a case study to illustrate the potential of these methods. The state of current methods and needs for further research and application are discussed. While there is much more to learn, these tools are available for fern ex situ conservation and should be implemented on a broader scale to preserve rare fern taxa and provide materials for future restoration and research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agrawal DC, Pawar SS, Mascarenhas AF (1993) Cryopreservation of spores of Cyathea spinulosa wall. Ex. Hook. F., an endangered tree fern. J Plant Physiol 142:124–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguraiuja R (2010a) Reinforcement of the populations of the critically endangered endemic fern, Diellia pallid, Kaua’I, Hawwaiian Islands, U.S.A. In: Soorae PS (ed) Global re-introduction perspectives: additional case-studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group. Abu Dhabi, UAE, pp 319–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Aguraiuja R (2010b) Conservation introduction of a locally extinct fern species in Estonia during 1998–2008. In: Soorae PS (ed) Global re-introduction perspectives: additional case-studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group. Abu Dhabi, UAE, pp 345–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander A, Dudas G, Herren G, Kolben G, Kuhara Y, Murdoch L, Slaven J, Paultre D, Rae N, Rayner J, Vileitaite J, Chamberlain M (2008) Testing the viability of spores held in the fern spore bank at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Newsletter of the Botanical Society of Scotland 91:29–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Aragón CF, Pangua E (2004) Spore viability under different storage conditions in four rupicolous Asplenium L. taxa. Am Fern J 941:28–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arcand NN, Ranker TA (2008) Conservation biology. In: Ranker TA, Haufler CH (eds) Biology and evolution of ferns and lycophytes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 257–283

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ashcroft CJ, Sheffield E (2000) The effect of spore density on germination and development in Pteridium, monitored using a novel culture technique. Am Fern J 90:91–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashmore SE, Hamilton KN, Offord CA (2011) Conservation technologies for safeguarding and restoring threatened flora: case studies from Eastern Australia. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Plant 47:99–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacchetta G, Bueno Sánchez A, Fenu G, Jiménez-Alfaro B, Mattana E, Piotto B, Virevaire M (eds) (2008) Conservación ex situ de plantas silvestres. Principado de Asturias/La Caixa, Principado de Asturias, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D (2010) Conservation of fern spores. In: Kumar A, Fernández H, Revilla-Bahillo A (eds) Working with ferns. Issues and applications. Springer, New York, pp 165–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D, Pence VC (2017) Survival and death of seeds during liquid nitrogen storage: a case study on seeds with short lifespans. CryoLetters 38(4):278–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D, Walters C (2007a) Water properties in fern spores: sorption characteristics relating to water affinity, glassy states and storage stability. J Exp Bot 58:1185–1196

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D, Walters C (2007b) Calorimetric properties of water and triacylglycerols in fern spores relating to storage at cryogenic temperatures. Cryobiology 55:1–9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D, Walters C (2011) Detailed characterization of mechanical properties and molecular mobility within dry seed glasses: relevance to the physiology of dry biological systems. The Plant J 68:607–619

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D, Estrelles E, Walters C, Ibars AM (2011) Effect of storage temperature on green spore longevity for the ferns Equisetum ramosissimum and Osmunda regalis. CryoLetters 32(2):89–98

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D, Estrelles E, Walters C, Ibars AM (2012) Effects of temperature and desiccation on ex situ conservation of non-green fern spores. Am J Bot 99:721–729

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros D, Hill LM, Walters C (2017) Variation of desiccation tolerance and longevity in fern spores. J Plant Physiol 211:53–62

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnicoat H, Cripps R, Kendon J, Sarasan V (2011) Conservation in vitro of rare and threatened ferns—case studies of biodiversity hotspot and island species. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Plant 47:37–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beri A, Bir SS (1993) Germination of stored spores of Pteris vittata L. Am Fern J 833:73–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand AM, Albuerne MA, Fernández H, González A, Sánchez-Tamés R (1999) In vitro organogenesis of Polypodium cambricum. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 57:65–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camloh M (1999) Spore age and sterilization affects germination and early gametophyte development of Platycerium bifurcatum. Am Fern J 89:124–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camloh M, Ambrozic-Dolinsek J (2010) In vitro regeneration systems of Platycerium. In: Fernández H, Kumar A, Angeles-Revilla A (eds) Working with ferns: issues and applications. Springer Science & Business Media, New York, pp 111–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman AD (2009) Numbers of living species in Australia and the world. Australian Biodiversity Information Services, Toowoomba, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Colli Aurea MT, Perez Sonia CJG (1999) The effect of red light on the germination of a brazilian pteridophyte. Brazil Arch Biol Technol 422:169–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Constantino S, Santamaria LM, Hodson E (2000) Storage and in vitro germination of tree fern spores. Bot Garden Microprop News 24:58–60

    Google Scholar 

  • De Brum FMR, Randi AM (2006) Germination of spores and growth of gametophytes and sporophytes of Rumohra adiantiformis (Forst.) Ching (Dryopteridaceae) after spore cryogenic storage. Rev Bras Bot 29:489–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Long JM, Prange RK (2008) Fiddlehead fronds: nutrient rich delicacy. Chronica Hort 48:12–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolinsek JA, Camloh M (1997) Gametophytic and sporophytic regeneration from bud scales of the fern Platycerium bifurcatum (Cav.) C.Chr. in vitro. Ann Bot 80:23–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong S, Zuo Z, Yan Y, Xiang J (2017) Red list assessment of lycophytes and ferns in China. Biodivers Sci 25(7):765–773

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyer AF (1979) The culture of fern gametophytes for experimental investigation. In: Dyer AF (ed) The experimental biology of ferns. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyer AF (1994) Natural soil spore banks—can they be used to retrieve lost ferns? Biodivers Conserv 3:160–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabre J, Dereuddre J (1990) Encapsulation-dehydration: a new approach to cryopreservation of Solanum shoot tips. CryoLetters 11:413–426

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2014) Genebank standards for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, Rev. edn, Rome. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrar DR (1967) Gametophytes of four tropical fern genera reproducing independently of their sporophytes in the southern Appalachians. Science 155:1266–1267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farrar DR (2016) Vittaria appalachiana continues to provide insight into the biology of ferns: a commentary on two studies recently published in American Journal of Botany. Am J Bot 103:593–595

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández H, Revilla MA (2003) In vitro culture of ornamental ferns. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 73:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández H, Bertrand A, Sánchez-Tamés R (1996) Micropropagation and phase change in Blechnum spicant and Pteris ensiformis. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 44:261–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández H, Kumar A, Revilla A (eds) (2010) Working with ferns: issues and applications. Springer Science & Business Media, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford MV (1992) Growing ferns from spores in sterile culture. In: Ide JM, Jermy AC, Paul AM (eds) Fern horticulture: past, present and future perspectives. Intercept, Andover, pp 295–297

    Google Scholar 

  • From MM (2010) Conservation status and re-introduction of Bermuda’s Governor Laffan fern—an endangered endemic. In: Sourae PS (ed) Global Re-introduction Perspectives—2010: additional Case Studies from around the Globe. IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE, pp 316–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillon JM, Fievet D (2003) Environmental sex determination in response to light and biased sex ratios in Equisetum gametophytes. J Ecol 91:49–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higuchi H, Amaki W (1989) Effects of 6-benzylaminopurine on the organogenesis of Asplenium nidus L. through in vitro propagation. Sci Hortic 37:351–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Higuchi H, Amaki W, Suzuki S (1987) In vitro propagation of Nephrolepis cordifolia Presl. Sci Hortic 32:105–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirai D, Sakai A (1999) Cryopreservation of in vitro-grown axillary shoot-tip meristems of min (Mentha spicata L.) by encapsulation vitrification. Plant Cell Rep 19:150–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houser DC, From M, Landry M, Copeland A, Kellar R (2016) Systematics of Diplazium laffanianum (Athyriaceae), a fern species endemic to Bermuda. Am Fern J 106:206–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y-M, Lee P-H, Fu C-H, Chang Y-H (2014) The relation between spore maturity and viability of tree ferns. J Natl Taiwan Mus 67(2):45–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibars AM, Estrelles E (2012) Recent developments in ex situ and in situ conservation of ferns. Fern Gaz 19(3):67–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibars AM, Estrelles E (2015) Protocolo de propagación de helechos. Botanic as PPECTS 1 1:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibars AM, Gómez Serrano MA, Mayoral O, Estrelles E (2011) Prioridades para la conservación en el ámbito de los helechos en Castilla-La Mancha. In: Hernandez JE, Herranz JM (eds) Protección de la diversidad vegetal y de los recursos fitogenéticos de Castilla-La Mancha. Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses- Botánico de Castilla-La Mancha. Serie I Estudio, Albacete, Spain, pp 191–213

    Google Scholar 

  • IUCN (2017) Table 3a: Status category summary by major taxonomic group (plants). In: The IUCN red list of threatened species, version 2017–2. Last updated 14 Sept 2017, http://cmsdocs.s3.amazonaws.com/summarystats/2017-2_Summary_Stats_Page_Documents/2017_2_RL_Stats_Table_3b.pdf. Accessed 29 Sept 2017

  • Jha TB, Mukherjee S, Basak A, Adhikari J (2013) In vitro morphogenesis in Selaginella microphylla (Kunth.) Spring. Plant Biotechnol Rep 7:239–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamachi H, Noguchi M (2012) Negative gravitropism in dark-grown gametophytes of the fern Ceratopteris richardii. Am Fern J 102:147–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Raziq M, Kayani HA (2008) In vitro propagation of bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) from spores. Pakistan J Bot 40:91–97

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuriyama A, Sugawara Y, Matsushima H, Takeuchi M (1990) Production of sporophytic structures from gametophytes by cytokinin in Equisetum Arvense. Naturwissenschaften 77(1):31–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li D, Pritchard HW (2009) The science and economics of ex situ plant conservation. Trends Plant Sci 14:614–621

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Shi L (2015) Effect of maturity level and desiccation process on liquid nitrogen storage of green spores of Osmunda japonica. Plant Cell Tissue Organan Cult 120:531–538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Han J-D, Fang Y-H, Bai S-N, Rao G-Y (2017) Expression analyses of embryogenesis-associated genes during somatic embryogenesis of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. in vitro: new insights into the evolution of reproductive organs in land plants. Front Plant Sci 8:1–12

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Wujisguleng W, Long C (2012) Food uses of ferns in China: a review. Acta Soc Bot Pol 81(4):263–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maeda M, Ito M (1981) Isolation of protoplasts from fern prothallia and their regeneration to gametophytes. Bot Mag Tokyo 94:35–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makowski D, Rybczyński JJ, Mikula A, Klimaszewska K (2015) A simple way to overcome the recalcitrance of the water fern Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. to cryopreservation. Acta Soc Bot Pol 84:385–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makowski D, Tomiczak K, Rybczyński JJ, Mikula A (2016) Integration of tissue culture and cryopreservation methods for propagation and conservation of the fern Osmunda regalis L. Acta Physiol Plant 38:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mannan M, Maridass M, Victor B (2008) A review on the potential uses of ferns. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12:281–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Marimuthu J, Manickam VS (2011) Ex situ conservation of two threatened ferns of the Western Ghats through in vitro spore culture. J Threat Taxa 3:1919–1928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin KP, Sini S, Zhang CL, Slater A, Madhusoodanan PV (2006) Efficient induction of apospory and apogamy in vitro in silver fern (Pityrogramma calomelanos L.) Plant Cell Rep 25:1300–1307

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuura T, Sugimura K, Miyamoto A, Tanaka H, Tanaka N (2014) Spatial characteristics of edible wild fern harvesting in mountainous villages in northeastern Japan using GPS tracks. Forests 5:269–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehltreter K, Walker LR, Sharpe JM (eds) (2010) Fern ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikula A, Jata K, Rybczynksi JJ (2009) Cryopreservation strategies for Cyathea australis (R.Br.) Domin. CryoLetters 30:429–439

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mikula A, Makowski D, Walters C, Rybczynski JJ (2010) Exploration of cryo-methods to preserve tree and herbaceous fern gametophytes. In: Fernández H, Kumar A, Angeles-Revilla A (eds) Working with ferns: issues and applications. Springer Science & Business Media, New York, pp 173–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikula A, Tomiczak K, Makowski D, Niedzielski M, Rybczynski JJ (2015) The effect of moisture content and temperature on spore aging in Osmunda regalis. Acta Physiol Plant 37:229–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bio assays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol Plant 15:473–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ong BL, Ng ML (1998) Regeneration of drought-stressed gametophytes of the epiphytic fern, Pyrrosia piloselloides (L.) price. Plant Cell Rep 18:225–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Page CN, Dyer AF, Lindsay S, Mann DG (1992) Conservation of Pteridophytes: the ex situ approach. In: Ide JM, Jermy AC, Paul AM (eds) Fern horticulture: past, present and future perspectives. Intercept, Andover, pp 269–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2000a) Cryopreservation of in vitro grown fern gametophytes. Am Fern J 90:16–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2000b) Survival of chlorophyllous and nonchlorophyllous fern spores through exposure to liquid nitrogen. Am Fern J 90:119–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2001) Cryopreservation of shoot tips of Selaginella uncinata. Am Fern J 91:37–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2004) Ex situ conservation methods for bryophytes and pteridophytes. In: Guerrant Jr. EO, Havens K, Maunder M (eds) Ex situ plant conservation. Supporting species survival in the wild. Island Press,Washington, DC, pp 206–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2008a) Ex situ conservation of ferns and lycophytes – approaches and techniques. In: Ranker TA, Hauffler CH (eds) Biology and evolution of ferns and lycophytes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 284–300

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2008b) Cryopreservation of bryophytes and ferns. In: Reed BM (ed) Plant cryopreservation: a practical guide. Springer, New York, pp 117–140

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2014) In vitro propagation and cryopreservation of the endangered filmy fern, Trichomanes punctatum subsp. floridanum (Hymenophyllaceae). Fern Gaz 19:307–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC (2015) Propagation and cryopreservation of Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum, the American hart’s-tongue fern. Am Fern J 105:211–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pence VC, Philpott M, Culley TM, Plair B, Yorke SR, Lindsey K, Vanhove A-C, Ballesteros D (2017) Survival and genetic stability of shoot tips of Hedeoma todsenii R.S. Irving after long-term cryostorage. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology Plant 53(4):328–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pennisi E (2010) Tending the global garden. Science 329:1274–1277

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-García B, Reyes-Jaramillo I (1993) Helechos: propagación y conservación. Ciencias 30:10–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Possley J (2014) Fern conservation in a biodiversity hotspot. The Palmetto 31(2):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard HW, Nadarajan J, Ballesteros D, Thammasiri K, Prasongsom S, Malik SK, Chaudhury R, Kim H-H, Lin L, Li W-Q, Yang X-Y, Popova E (2017) Cryobiotechnology of tropical seeds – scale, scope and hope. Acta Hortic 1167:37–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor MCF, Oliver MJ, Wood AJ, Alpert P, Stark LR, Cleavitt NL, Mishler BD (2007) Desiccation-tolerance in bryophytes: a review. Bryologist 110:595–621

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quintanilla LG, Amigo J, Pangua E, Pajaron S (2002) Effect of storage method on spore viability in five globally threatened fern species. Ann Bot 904:461–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raine ACA, Sheffield E (1997) Establishment and maintenance of aseptic culture of Trichomanes speciosum gametophytes from gemmae. Am Fern J 87:87–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajasekharan PE (2015) Gene banking for ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources. In: Bahadur B, Rajam MV, Sahijram L, Krishnamurthy KV (eds) Plant biology and biotechnology Vol II: Plant genomics and biotechnology. Springer, New Delhi, pp 445–459

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Reed BM (ed) (2008) Plant cryopreservation: a practical guide. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers SMD, Banister S (1992) Micropropagation of Notholaena. Hortscience 27:1224–1225

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogge GD, Viana AM, Randi AM (2000) Cryopreservation of spores of Dicksonia sellowiana: an endangered tree fern indigenous to South and Central America. CryoLetters 21:223–230

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sara SC, Manickam VS (2007) In vitro developmental ontogeny and life cycle of a rare fern species – Thelypteris confluens (Thunb.) Morton. Indian J Biotechnol 6:372–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla SP, Khare PB (2012) In vitro shoot regeneration via caulogenesis in fern, Pteris vittata L. J Environ Biol 33:683–687

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simabukuro EA, Dyer AF, Felippe GM (1998) The effect of sterilization and storage conditions on the viability of the spores of Cyathea delgadii. Am Fern J 88:72–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somer M, Arbesu R, Menéndez V, Revilla MA, Fernández H (2009) Sporophyte induction studies in ferns in vitro. Euphytica 171:203–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasan JC, Kaufman PB (1978). Sex expression in Equisetum scirpoides in vitro. Phytomorphology 28:331–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Stamps RH (2006) Irrigation and nutrient management practices for commercial leatherleaf fern production in Florida. University of Florida, IFAS, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • Taha RM, Haron NW, Wafa SN (2011) Morphological and tissue culture studies of Platycerium coronarium, a rare ornamental fern species from Malaysia. Am Fern J 101:241–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Templeman TS, DeMaggio AE, Stetler DA (1987) Biochemistry of fern spore germination: globulin storage proteins in Matteuccia struthiopteris L. Plant Physiol 85:343–349

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Towill LR, Ikuma H (1973) Photocontrol of the germination of Onoclea spores. Plant Physiol 51:973–978

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vertucci CW, Roos EE, Crane J (1994) Theoretical basis of protocols for seed storage III. Optimum moisture contents for pea seeds stored at different temperatures. Ann Bot 74(5):531–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walters C, Hill LM, Wheeler LJ (2005) Dying while dry: kinetics and mechanisms of deterioration in desiccated organisms. Integr Comp Biol 45:751–758

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whittier DP (1973) The effect of light and other factors on spore germination in Botrychium dissectum. Can J Bot 51:1791–1794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittier DP, Pintaud JC (1999) Spore germination and early gametophyte development in Stromatopteris. Am Fern J 89:142–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson T (2002) In vitro techniques for the conservation of Hymenophyllum tunbrigense (L.) Sm. Fern Gaz 16:458

    Google Scholar 

  • Winarto B, Teixeira da Silva JA (2012) Improved micropropagation protocol for leatherleaf fern (Rumohra adiantiformis) using rhizomes as donor explants. Sci Hortic 140:74–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu R, Zhang G, Li H, Cao H, Mo X, Gui M, Zhou X, Jiang Y, Li S, Wang J (2017) In vitro propagation of the endangered tree fern Cibotium barometz through formation of green globular bodies. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 128:369–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Callihan A and Lindsey K for their contribution to the propagation and acclimation of diverse fern species at CREW and Thomas A and Stewart K for the work on the initial banking of spores and gametophytes. Also special thanks to Barber S, Pritchard H, Dickie J, Davies R (UK), Estrelles E (Spain), Mikula A (Poland), Magrini S (Italy), Walters C, Hill L, Wolkis D (USA), Reyes-Jaramillo I (Mexico), Randi M (Brazil), Sershen (South Africa), Huang YM (Taiwan), Cicuzza D, Bin W, Yang X-Y (China), Schnell J, McGill C (New Zealand), and Offord C (Australia) for their contributions in the development of Table 11.1 and Suggii N and From M for information on in vitro sporophyte collections. Fern spore, gametophyte, and sporophyte collections used in this work would not be possible without the help and the donations of multiple collectors and researchers from diverse institutions, including Bannister S, Yoshinaga A, Kawakami K, and staff of the Krohn Conservatory.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Daniel Ballesteros & Valerie C. Pence

  2. Comparative Seed Biology Group, Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology Department, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, UK

    Daniel Ballesteros

Authors
  1. Daniel Ballesteros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Valerie C. Pence
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Ballesteros .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, Oviedo University, Oviedo, Spain

    Helena Fernández

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ballesteros, D., Pence, V. (2018). Fern Conservation: Spore, Gametophyte, and Sporophyte Ex Situ Storage, In Vitro Culture, and Cryopreservation. In: Fernández, H. (eds) Current Advances in Fern Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75103-0_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation