Compositional changes in germinating spores ofAdiantum capillus-veneris L.

Spores ofAdiantum capillus-veneris L. incubated at 25 C for 3 days in the dark were irradiated with continuous red light to induce spore germination and cell growth during following 7 days. A portion of spores were cultured for 8 days in the dark as non-irradiated control. Rhizoidal and protonemal cells were observed at 3 days after transferring spores to the irradiation conditions. During 10 days of the experimental period, changes in the contents of following cell constituents were investigated: total lipid, total soluble sugar, reducing sugar, insoluble glucan, organic acid, protein, soluble α-amino N, and major free amino acids. A large part of nutrient reserves of spores was found to be lipid, whose content decreased markedly as spores germinated. Soluble and insoluble carbohydrates also provided carbon and energy sources during imbibition and germination. Two main reserve proteins were detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These proteins disappeared mostly during germination. Major free amino acids could be assorted into three groups by their patterns of fluctuation during the germination.