Diversity of ferns and lycophytes from Reserva Natural Punta Lara, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Punta Lara Natural Reserve shelters the relict of the Southernmost riparian forest in the world, where the flora is threatened by the anthropic expansion and by the introduction of exotic species. In this area the ferns and lycophytes grow in particular environments as marshland, grassland and marginal forest. The aim of this work was to evaluate the diversity of ferns and lycophytes that inhabit in Punta Lara Natural Reserve. Field trips were conducted from 2006 to 2009 and local herbaria and specific bibliography were also revised. As a result of our study twenty four taxa of ferns and lycophytes were recognized. Their habit was mainly terrestrial (70%), fewer aquatic (17%) and epiphytic (13%). Five native taxa were scarcely recorded whereas two native species previously documented were not found. We assume that the main threats on ferns and lycophytes populations in Punta Lara Reserve are: removal for comercialization, invasion by exotic species and climatic fluctuations (drought periods). Keys for taxa identification are given and strategies for the conservation of threatened taxa are proposed. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (3): 1037-1046. Epub 2011 September 01.

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Sexual morphogenesis phase of the epiphytic ferns Microgramma mortoniana and Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Polypodiaceae) from Punta Lara Natural Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Punta Lara Natural Reserve is located on the riverside of the La Plata River in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the Southernmost relict in the world of subtropical riparian forest. The epiphytic ferns studied in this work belong to the Polypodiaceae family: Microgramma mortoniana and Pleopeltis macrocarpa. Plant communities are subject to high levels of anthropization and introduction of exotic species. The goals of this work are to provide information on the morphogenesis of epiphytic gametophytes and to extend knowledge of their life cycles, contributing to their conservation. Sowing was carried out in Dyer medium. In both species the spores are monolete, ellipsoidal, yellowish and with verrucate sculpture. The equatorial diameter is 60-61 μm, the polar diameter is 39-42 μm. The germination is the Vittaria type; in M. mortoniana occurs at 20 days, while in P. macrocarpa occurs at six days. The filaments are uniseriate of 3-6 cells in length. The gametophyte development is Drynaria type. The cordated form is given after 40 days. In M. mortoniana, buds originated after 40 days. In P. macrocarpa, after 120 days, clathrate trichomes scale-like appear mainly on the margins of the gametophyte. The gametangia are typical of leptosporangiate ferns. The sporophyte of M. mortoniana emerged after 120 days and that of P. macrocarpa arose after 500 days, its blades are simple, spatulate and unicellular and multicellular branching hairs were observed. The germination pattern, gametophyte development, the presence of a lipid globule in the prothalic cell and the formation of unicellular capitated hairs are relevant characters that could be considered for systematic group. The delay in the formation of sporophytes through sexual reproduction, allows us to infer that the success of their establishment in situ would be given by the vegetative reproduction through creeping rhizomes and buds of gametophytes. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(3): 1078-1089. Epub 2018 September 01.

Summary:Anogramma chaerophylla belongs to a fern genus with annual sporophytes and potentially perennating gametophytes. In the studied area, Natural Reserve Punta Lara, the plants grow stressed mainly by pollution and the invasion of exotic species. As a part of a project on conservation of ferns inhabiting Buenos Aires province, the objectives of this work were to evaluate in Anogramma chaerophylla the conditions for in-vitro spore germination and to analyse the different stages of its reproductive cycle. Spores were sterilized in an aqueous solution 10 % of NaCIO during different times and then sown in Petri dishes with Murashige & Skoog medium, without the addition of sucrose. The dishes were kept under laboratory conditions, at 12 h light/ darkness photoperiod and a temperature of 22 (± 2) °C. After two weeks, the percentage of germination was 80%. The spore germination pattern corresponds to the Vittaria type and the prothallus development was Ceratopteris type. Gametangia developed first in the bended thalloid region of the prothallus and then bisexual tubercles originated near this zone. The sporophytes developed only in association with the tubercles. During culture in plastic pots the sporophytes gave origin to a second generation of prothalli. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that the in vitro culture technique is suitable for A. chaerophylla propagation as a strategy for ex-situ conservation.Key words: Anogramma chaerophylla, micropropagation, gametophyte, tubercle, ex-situ conservation Resumen: El cultivo in vitro de esporas y los aspectos reproductivos del helecho anual Anogramma chaerophylla (Pteridaceae). Anogramma chaerophylla pertenece a un género de helechos con esporofitos anuales y gametofitos potencialmente perennes. En el área de estudio, la Reserva Natural Punta Lara, la vegetación crece bajo estrés debido principalmente a la contaminación y la invasión de especies exóticas. Como parte de un proyecto de conservación de helechos que habitan en la provincia de Buenos Aires, los objetivos del trabajo fueron evaluar en Anogramma chaerophylla las condiciones para la germinación de esporas in-vitro y analizar las distintas etapas de su ciclo reproductivo. Las esporas fueron desinfectadas en solución 10 % de NaCIO durante distintos tiempos y sembradas luego en medio de cultivo Murashige -Skoog, sin agregado de sacarosa. Las cápsulas se incubaron con un fotoperíodo de 12 h luz/oscuridad y una temperatura de 22 (± 2) °C. A las dos semanas germinaron el 80% de las esporas. El patrón de germinación fue tipo Vittaria y el desarrollo del protalo tipo Ceratopteris. Los gametangios aparecieron primero en la región engrosada del protalo donde posteriormente se originaron los tubérculos bisexuales. Los esporofitos se desarrollaron solo en asociación con los tubérculos. Durante su cultivo en macetas, éstos dieron origen a una segunda generación de protalos. Nuestros resultados demuestran que la técnica de cultivo in vitro es apropiada para la propagación de Anogramma chaerophylla y como estrategia para...

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The xylem in three arborescent species of Blechnum section Lomariocycas was studied in detail using SEM, TEM, FT-IR spectroscopy and sugar composition analysis. The overall structure of root and rhizome metaxylem tracheids was similar in the three species analyzed, and characterized by mostly scalariform pitting of these multifaceted cells. Pit membrane thickness and porosity varied according to the stage of tracheid maturation. Approximately rounded deposits resembling vestures were observed in the outer pit apertures of some tracheids. Under TEM, thickenings like one-sided tori appeared on the tracheid side of tracheid-to-parenchyma contact walls; some parenchyma cells showed, in addition, features of transfer cells. As the increase in stature creates new constraints in terms of biomechanical support and water transport in plants, the characteristics found in Blechnum xylem might be related to optimization of conductive efficiency and safety. Chemical analyses of roots and rhizomes of B. yungense revealed similar levels of G-type lignin deposited in the xylem cell walls. Such lignin is the most common in ferns, including other arborescent genera. Preliminary analysis of cell wall polysaccharide composition of both root and rhizome xylem, yielded cellulose, xyloglucans and xylans with low amounts of mannans and pectins. The xylem of rhizomes had higher amounts of cellulose than root xylem. Our results are discussed in the context of functional and evolutionary aspects of xylem ferns.

Desarrollo del gametofito y conservación de Ctenitis submarginalis (Dryopteridaceae) en la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Se estudió la germinación de las esporas y el desarrollo del gametofito de Ctenitis submarginalis de la Reserva Natural Punta Lara, provincia de Buenos Aires como contribución a la conservación de la especie en ésta área protegida. Las esporas colectadas de las poblaciones naturales fueron sembradas en medio de Dyer y la germinación se produjo a los seis días, con un porcentaje de germinación del 88 % a los 15 días después de la siembra. La germinación es del tipo Vittaria y el desarrollo del gametofito tipo Aspidium. El gametofito de Ctenitis submarginalis es cordado, con una profunda escotadura y alas simétricas bien desarrolladas. Los gametangios aparecen a los 50 días después de la siembra. El esporofito emerge a los 190 días después de la siembra y dos tipos diferentes de pelos se observaron en la primera lámina. La germinación in-vitro a través de esporas es un método exitoso para la obtención de numerosos esporofitos de Ctenitis submarginalis. Los esporofitos obtenidos fueron gradualmente aclimatados, transplantados a su hábitat natural en la reserva y serán periódicamente monitoreados para contribuir a la conservación de la especie.

The sporoderm ultrastructure of Anogramma Link species, which grow in Argentina, was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The species A. chaerophylla (Desv.) Link and A. lorentzii (Hieron.) Diels were studied with TEM for the first time. The spores of both species have a sculptured, apparently two-layered exospore. The perispore is uniformly thickened on the whole surface: in A. chaerophylla it is three-layered, while, in A. lorentzii it is single-layered with a complex structure. Spherules are present on the perispore surface or incorporated into the structure of A. chaerophylla while, globules exist on and within the perispore in A. lorentzii. The sporoderm ultrastructure in these two species was compared with other cingulate genera within the Pteridaceae. The characteristics found in this work, with respect to spore wall structure and general morphology, suggest that these characters may differentiate species within genus.