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Growth and survival of Azolla filiculoides in Britain. II. Sexual reproduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 1998

RACHEL JANES
RACHEL JANES
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK Present address: Wye College, University of London, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH, UK. E-mail: nfc@wye.ac.uk
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Abstract

Sporulation in the floating fern Azolla filiculoides Lam. is both frequent and widespread in Britain and might therefore play a greater part in the population dynamics of the species than has been suggested by earlier reports. In laboratory experiments, increasing plant density and/or phosphorus supply resulted in increased sporulation. It was estimated that a thick mat of 8 kg m2 fresh biomass can produce 380000 microsporocarps and 85000 megasporocarps per m2.

Light and temperatures >10°C were necessary for sporocarp germination. Sporocarps could survive exposure to both low temperatures (5°C for at least 3 months) and sub-zero temperatures (−10°C for at least 18 d). Sporocarps were found to survive storage in water for 3 yr and to germinate from mud samples collected in the field. In laboratory culture, sporeling growth and survival were optimal at 15°C.

There is some evidence that A. filiculoides might have adapted to the British climate since its introduction.

Keywords

Introduced fernAzolla filiculoides Lam.sporocarptemperatureoverwintering
Type
Research Article
Information
The New Phytologist , Volume 138 , Issue 2 , February 1998 , pp. 377 - 384
Copyright
Trustees of the New Phytologist 1998

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