Ethylene Production and Ethylene-induced Apogamous Bud Formation in Nine Gametophytic Strains of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn

A comparative study of the abilities of nine gametophytic strainsof Pteridium aquilinum to produce ethylene and to undergo apogamywas conducted. Each gametophytic strain produced ethylene atits characteristic rate and all the strains, except one, formedapogamous buds in response to evolved ethylene which collectedwithin sealed culture vessels or to exogenous ethylene suppliedin a continuous-flow system. The number of apogamous buds producedby each strain was not directly related to the ability of thestrain to produce ethylene, but rather appeared to be dependenton the ability of the gametophytes to respond to ethylene.