DAYLENGTH AND LIGHT RESPONSES IN GROWTH AND FERTILITY OF GLOSSOPHORA KUNTHII (PHAEOPHYTA,DICTYOTALES) FROM PACIFIC SOUTH AMERICA1

Excised ligulae of Glossophora kunthii (C. Ag.) J. Ag. were cultured in photoperiods of 4–24 h and photon fluence rates of 10–75 μmol.m^?2.s^?1. Daylength interacted with irradiance on the growth of the ligulae. Maximal growth of primary ligulae occurred in long-day regimens with high irradiances suggesting an effect of irradiance on photosynthesis and growth. In contrast, growth of secondary ligulae was greatest in short-day regimes. Differences were significant at the highest irradiance tested. Differentiation of tetrasporangia on the ligulae is a short-day photoperiodic response. Daylengths of 8.5 h or less induced a sharp increase in numbers of fertile ligulae and tetrasporangia attaining maturity. Interruptions of the dark period decreased the development of tetrasporangia; the number of interruptions had a cumulative inhibitory effect. Differentiation of reproductive structures was influenced by interactions of photoperiod and irradiance. Maximum numbers of tetrasporangia were formed at short-day regimes and low irradiances; differentiation was completely inhibited at long-day conditions and high irradiance.     

TEMPERATURE,PHOTOPERIOD AND LIGHT INTERACTIONS ON GROWTH AND FERTILITY OF GLOSSOPHORA KUNTHII (PHAEOPHYTA,DICTYOTALES) FROM CENTRAL CHILE1

Excised ligulae of Glossophora kunthii from central Chile were cultured of temperatures of 5–25° C, photoperiods of 16:8 and 8:16 h LD cycles, with photon irradiances of 10 and 50 μmol · m^?2· s^?1. Growth of the ligulae, number of fertile ligulae and number of tetrasporangia forming on the ligulae were assessed. Ligulae tolerated temperatures between 10 and 23°C. Temperature interacted with daylength and photon dose, determining quantitative responses in the growth and fertility of ligulae. Growth was least at 8:16 h LD and was not affected significantly by temperature. It was greatest at 16:8 h LD, 50 μmol · m^?2· s^?1 and increased with temperature up to 20°C. Percentage of fertile ligulae and number of tetrasporangia increased with temperature at the 8:16 h LD cycle, reaching a maximum at 20°C. Fertility was low at 16:8 h LD, except at 20° C (and low photon dose) suggesting that reproduction at 20° C is independent of daylength in this species. Ligulae grew larger at the long-day photoperiods and the proportions of fertile ligulae were higher at the short-day photoperiods, irrespective of the total photon dose received. These results suggest that some aspects of growth and fertility are controlled by photoperiod.     

Photocontrol of spore germination in the fern Thelypteris kunthii

The light requirement for germination in spores of the fern Thelypteris kunthii (Desv.) Morton was fully satisfied by a long period of continuous red light or partially by intermittent, short periods of red light. Red light-potentiated spore germination was inhibited by brief far-red light irradiation, indicating phytochrome involvement. Repeated exposure of spores to prolonged red and short far-red irradiations, or exposure of red-potentiated spores to far-red light after an extended period in darkness, led to their escape from inhibition of germination by far-red light. Prolonged irradiation of spores with blue light before or after red light treatment partially antagonized the effect of red light.