EFFECTS OF BENLATE ON FERN GAMETOPHYTE DEVELOPMENT

The widely used fungicide, benlate, was tested for its effect(s) on gametophyte development in the fern Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. The active ingredient of benlate, benomyl, represents 50% of the fungicide by weight. Seven concentrations of benomyl were tested on C. thalictroides gametophytes: 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 and 100 mg/l. Five developmental stages were observed for possible effects of benomyl. These were 1) germination, and the initiation of 2) antheridia, 3) notch meristems, 4) archegonia, and 5) sporophytes. Overall inhibition was greatest at 100 mg/l benomyl. At 10 mg/l and 100 mg/l, sporophyte initiation was completely blocked. This was probably the consequence of two characteristics found only on gametophytes growing on medium containing 10 mg/l and 100 mg/l benomyl. These characteristics were lack of sperm motility and production of callus growths in the areas proximal to the notch meristems, just proximal to the younger archegonia. Besides blocking the completion of sexual reproduction, the highest concentrations tested also produced smaller (cell number) and chlorotic gametophytes (especially at 100 mg/l). The bigametophyte population (made up of hermaphroditic and male gametophytes) was changed from 51% hermaphrodites (at 0 mg/l benomyl) to 26% hermaphrodites at 100 mg/l. This would, since only hermaphrodites possess archegonia, also decrease the potential for the production of sporophytes.